294 THE AWGLER-NATUBALIST. 



second when actually beaten and just coming under the 



gaff." 



Sir William Jardine also gives an instance of rapacity 

 in the Salmon, which confirms the view before expressed 

 as to the voracious feeding-habits of the fish : — 



" The fisherman who rents this part of the Tweed, 

 fishing with worms one day last week, had his hooks and 

 tackle taken away by a fish. He put on a new set, and 

 again hooked and killed a Salmon with the former hooks 

 and bait in its jaws. This will prove either extreme 

 voracity in the fish, or little sensibility in the parts of the 

 mouth. I have often before heard fishermen mention 

 analogous facts, but never before knew an instance on 

 which I could depend.^^ * 



Both Salmon and Sea-Trout will frequently take the fly 

 or bait not only in brackish water, but in the open sea. 



Much controversy and many experiments have been 

 devoted to the question, "Will Salmon live and thrive 

 entirely in fresh water- — -that is, in lakes or ponds which 

 have no communication with the sea 7" The answer ap- 

 pears to be in the negative, so far as all practical purposes 

 are concerned. It has been proved that the fish will so 

 far increase under these conditions as to attain a maxi- 

 mum weight of a few pounds ; but the flesh of such fish 

 is comparatively white and insipid, and as an article of 

 food altogether different from that of the sea-bred Salmon. 



* Letter to Dr. Richardson, dated St. Boswells, April 15, 1835. 



