Class IV. SMELT SALMON. 417 



They inhabit the seas that wash these islands 

 the whole year, and never go very remote from 

 shore, except when they ascend the rivers. It 

 is remarked in certain rivers that they appear a 

 long time before they spawn, being taken in 

 great abundance in November, December, and 

 January, in the Thames and Dee, but in others 

 not till February, and in March and April they 

 spawn; after which* they all return to the salt 

 water, and are not seen in the rivers till the next 

 season. It has been observed, that they never 

 come into the Mersey as long as there is any 

 snow water in the river. 



These fish vary greatly in size ; the largest 

 we ever saw was thirteen inches long, and 

 weighed half a pound ; but I have been inform- 

 ed by a gentleman resident near Llanrwst, that 

 he had seen several taken in the adjacent river 

 Conwy which weighed twelve ounces. 



They have a very particular scent, from 

 whence is derived one of their English names 

 Smelt, i. e. smell it. That of Sparling, which 

 is used in Wales and the north of England, is 

 taken from the French, Eperlan. There is a 

 wonderful disagreement in the opinion of people 

 in respect to the scent of this fish ; some assert 



* In the river Conwy, near Llanrwst, and in the Merseu 

 they never continue above three or four weeks. 

 VOL. III. , 2 E 



