SALMON— HABITAT AND SIZE IT ATTAINS. 141 



pepper and salt, then dried either in the air or artificially by means of the smoke 

 of peat or juniper berries. Those which have a large amount of oil* in them are 

 not best adapted for kippering, but this depends upon the condition of the fish. 



Mahitat. — This fish ranges in the northern hemisphere between latitudes 45" 

 and 75°, and examples have even been captured as high as 80° N. Lat. In the 

 United States' report it is stated to range from the Polar regions to Cape Cod : 

 but their presence in Hudson's Bay and the Arctic coast of America though 

 probable is still doubtful. It extends throughout the seas and countries of 

 Northern Europe, around the British Isles, and also the Atlantic coast of Prance, 

 but does not occur in rivers which flow into the Mediterranean. 



It is rare in the Orkneys and Zetland (Baikie), but is found in all suitable 

 rivers of England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland, where it has not been destroyed 

 by pollutions, or obstructions render its ascent impracticable. In Great Britain 

 most numerous towards Scotland, it is present in all Yorkshire rivers, unless 

 excluded by pollutions (Yorkshire Vertebrata), less common down the east coast 

 of Lincolnshire, Norfolk, and round the south coast, the English Channel, but 

 more frequent in the Bristol Channel, while the Severn salmon are among those 

 which are most esteemed. 



A salmon weighing 25 lb. was captured oH Lowestoft in a trawl net (Oolman, 

 Land and Water, May 10th, 18?9), being only the second instance since 1849. 



Sir T. Browne, 1662, stated that it was no common fish in the rivers in his 

 time, though many were taken in the Ouse, in the Bare, and in the Waveney : in 

 the Norwich river but seldom and in the winter. Paget observed, respecting 

 Yarmouth, that small ones have very rarely been captured in the mackerel nets. 

 Of late years they have almost disappeared from the Norfolk coast, and one taken 

 Decem.ber 1st, 1873, in a flooded meadow at Lakenham, was considered such a 

 curiosity that it was sent to London for identification and preservation ; it is 

 now in the Norwich Museum (Lowe). Yarrell remarked that the last Thames 

 salmon was captured in June, 1833, but single ones have been taken in 1859, 

 '60, '61 and since. (See page 116 ante.) 



The size to which this fish attains depends upon the extent and character of the 

 water it inhabits, the quantity and quality of its food, temperature, and other 

 circumstances. A considerable amount of caution is necessary before we accept 

 some of the dimensions and weights which have been handed down to us.f The 

 reason why some Dutch fish are so large is believed to be owing to so many kelts 

 escaping capture. 



Respecting those taken by angling in Scotland Lascelles, Letters on Sporting, 

 gives 64| lb. as the largest he had heard of; Young mentions one 671b. 

 captured in 1812 in the Nith ; Yarrell one killed by Earl Home in the 

 Tweed which weighed 69j lb. -. Pennant one of 74 lb. ; Buckland cast one of 

 70 lb., 4 ft. 5 in. long, taken from the Tay. In 1885 the largest salmon netted 

 in the Tweed were 56 lb., 44 lb., 43 lb., and of those taken by anglers 46 lb., 

 44 lb. and 43 lb. Mr. Hoggan when angling in the Nith in 1885, took a 

 male fish weighing 42 lb., and which was 4 ft. long. In 1867 one was taken 

 in the Severn, near Lydney, in July, weighing over 42 lb. ; another the next 

 month at Beachley, nearly 52 lb. ; and a third in the Wye, near Tintern, 

 over 40 lb. In 1873 one weighing 70 lb. was taken in June at Littleton. In 

 Ireland, Ball recorded two, each weighing 52 lb., captured at the same time at 

 Blackwater : the cast of one of 69 lb. taken in March, 1866, in Galway, is to be 



* Sir Bobert Christison, in the Proceedings of tlie Eoyal Society of Edinburgh, 1871-72, p. 695, 

 recorded that on analysis he found as follows : — 



Salmon Tcelts, oil in flesh 1-3 per cent. : Jnitrogenous nutritive principle 17'07 per cent. 

 „ fresh-run fish „ 18-53 ,, „ „ „ 19'07 „ 



t In Hennesey's Chronicum Scotorwm, p. 317, mention Is made as follows : — " a.d. 1109. A 

 salmon was caught at Luimnech (Limerick) this year, which was twelve feet in length, twelve 

 hands in breadth, without being split open, and the length of its neck fin was three hands and 

 two fingers." A correspondent of The Field, February 13th, 1886, gave a circumstantial account 

 of one " 82 lb. that was taken in a snap-net in the Shannon twelve years ago. It was weighed by 

 the station master before being sent off by train ... it was also measured." The succeeding 

 month we were informed that the fish was a sturgeon ! 



