INTRODUCTORY 
To all who endeavour to understand the life of the 
salmon, two disadvantages are naturally present. 
The fish cannot at all stages of its life be brought 
under observation ; it goes from us into the ewigkezt 
of the ocean, where on the whole it spends more 
time than in our rivers, and where its doings excite 
men’s imaginations and their faculty for romance. 
‘Secondly, the fish belongs to a genus so susceptible 
to the influences of environment that it has to be 
studied in different localities and under varied con- 
ditions, if we would escape a too narrow vision of 
its habits and characteristics. 
Even then we have to bear in mind that what 
we actually see may not always be believed, that 
exceptional appearances have to be suspected and 
strange occurrences investigated; while the whole 
history of salmon literature reminds us that to write 
on this subject is to open up argument and to court 
dispute. I have heard of a Cabinet Minister who, 
when asked to advance salmon fishery legislation, 
promptly declined, saying he wished to die in his bed. 
The heat and intolerance which have been exhibited, 
in Scotland at least, over disputes about the life of 
the salmon almost rival the spirit shown in recent 
