Class IV. SALMON. 2^7 



It may here be proper to contradidt the vulgar 

 error of their taking their tail in their mouth vvhert 

 they attempt to leap; fuch as we faw, fprung up 

 quite ftraighc, and with a ftrong tremulous motion. 



Other particulars relating to the natural hiftory 

 of this filli, we ihail relate in our accounts of the 

 fifheries, either from our own obfervations, or from 

 fuch as have been communicated to us from dif- 

 ferent places : the fulleft we have been favoured 

 with, is from the late Mr. Potts^ of Berwick^ to 

 whom the public is indebted for the follov/ing very 

 curious hift-ory of the falmon fifhery on the 'Tweed, 



At the latter end of the year, or in the month of Spawning<» 

 November^ the falmon begin to prefs up the rivers 

 as far as they can reach, in order to fpawn ; when 

 that time approaches they fearch for a place fie 

 for the purpofe: the male and fem.ale unite in form- 

 ing a proper receptacle for it in the fand or gravel, 

 about the depth of eighteen inches \ in this the fe- 

 male depofits her fpawn, the male his milt, which 

 they cover carefully, as it is faid, with their tails, 

 for after fpawning they are obferved to have no fkin 

 on that part. 



The fpawn lies buried till fpring, if not dif- 

 turbed by violent floods ; but the falmon haften 

 to fea as foon as they are able, to purify and cleanfe 

 themfelves, and to recover their ftrength ; for af- 

 ter fpawning they become very poor and lean, and 

 then are called Kipper, 



When the falmon firft enter the freili water, they 



are 



