THE SALMON FAMILY. 285 



where the fish was formerly called a Skegger or Scegger, 

 and sometimes Salmon Pink or Brandling. "Lastspring" 

 is also a local name for the Smolt. 



When ready to make their trial trip, the Smolts assem- 

 ble in sculls of from forty to seventy together^ passing 

 down the river at the rate of about two miles an hour, — 

 according to some authors, in family groups. " The cau- 

 tion," says a gentleman who was a witness of one of these 

 migrations^ "which they exercised in descending the several 

 rapids they met with in the course of their journey was 

 very amusing. They no sooner came within the influence 

 of any rapid current than they in an instant turned their 

 heads up the stream, and would again and again permit 

 themselves to be carried to the very brink, and as often 

 retreat upwards^ till at length one or two, bolder than the 

 others, permitted themselves to be taken over, when the 

 entire flock, one by one, disappeared; and then, so soon 

 as they had reached comparatively still water, they again 

 turned their heads towards the sea and resumed their jour- 

 ney." Thus resting in the slack waters, and at intervals 

 braving the rapids and strong currents, they drop gradually 

 down the river, unless on the occurrence of a heavy flood, 

 which sweeps them at once into the sea. On meeting with 

 the tide they remain for two or three days in the brackish 

 water, to fit them for their change of habits, and then go 

 off to the sea altogether. 



What becomes of the young fish after reaching the 

 ocean is at present a matter of conjecture. What we do 



