1 8 THE HABITS OF THE SALMON. 



that counties in the United Kingdom have their 

 own distinct breeds, differing widely from each 

 other in appearance. May we not assume that, in 

 Hke manner, each river has its own breed of sal- 

 mon, which, though assuming differences of ap- 

 pearance at various times of the year, yet belongs 

 to one and the same stock ? I think so. Some 

 information might be obtained by marking a number 

 of spring fish on making their appearance in fresh 

 water, and by continuing to watch their subsequent 

 movements, viz. their departure from, and reap- 

 pearance in, fresh water. It is my belief that a 

 winter or autumn fish of one year may run up on 

 the next occasion in the spring, and also that a 

 summer fish might make for fresh water in the 

 spring or autumn ; but on this point, I, like many 

 other anglers, have come to this conclusion merely 

 from observation of a character that can hardly be 

 said to amount to actual proof 



The good results which in places have been de- 

 rived from earlier closing would justify a similar 



