Class IV. SAMLET SALMON. 405 



escape from the spawn, all vanish on the first 

 vernal flood that happens, which sweeps them 

 into the sea, and leaves scarcely one behind. 



Secondly, The growth of the salmon fry is so 

 quick and so considerable, as suddenly to exceed 

 the bulk of the largest samlet ; for example, the 

 fry that have quitted the fresh water in the 

 spring, not larger than gudgeons, return into it 

 again a foot or more in length. 



Thirdlv, Salmon attain a considerable bulk 

 before they begin to breed ; the samlets, on the 

 contrary, are found male and female,* (distin- 

 guished by the milt and roe) of their common size. 



Fourthly, They are found in the fresh waters 

 in all times of the year, and even at seasons 

 when the salmon fry have gained a considerable 

 size. It is well known, that near Shrewsbury 

 (where they are called Samsons) they are found 

 in such quantities in the month of September, 

 that a skilful angler, in a coracle, will take with 

 a fly from twelve to sixteen dozen in a day. 



Samlets spawn in November and December, 

 at which time those of the Severn push up to- 

 wards the head of that fair river, quitting the 

 lesser brooks, and return into them again when 

 they have done. 



* It has been vulgarly imagined, that there were no other 

 than males of this species. 



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