SALMON. 3 
‘spawning-beds, though why it should be so is 
not definitely known. The “redds” are selected 
where the river is clearest and purest—where 
there is bright gravel and an absence of sedi- 
ment. As the she-fish settles to spawning, she 
scoops out a hole in the sheltering gravel, and is 
closely attended by her mate. He indulges in 
many beautiful evolutions, and guards her against 
every enemy. When spawning is concluded, it 
is found that she has nearly a thousand eggs for 
every pound of her live weight. Take a handful 
of these pearly pink eggs, and examine them. 
Although delicate in appearance, they are not 
only capable of standing great pressure, but 
are so elastic, that if one be thrown down 
it will rebound like an indiarubber ball. Once 
the eggs are hatched, the fry afford delicate 
morsels to a whole host of aquatic creatures— 
birds, insects, and fishes themselves. When the 
fry attain to the “smelt” stage, they have an 
equally hard time of it, and the number of their 
enemies is hardly to be reckoned, 
Salmon are local in their haunts and habits, 
and on a favourite ‘“‘redd” numbers of fish are 
found. This hardly conduces to success, for when 
the beds are full of fish they are routed over and 
over until much spawn is spoiled; and it is when 
salmon are abundant and lie closely that the 
B2 
