COMMON SALMON. 41 



proved between the Caspian and Northern seas 

 and the Persian Gulf. 



The general history of the Salmon fishery on the 

 river Tweed is amply detailed by Mr. Pennant in 

 the third voitime of the British Zoology, chiefly 

 from the communications of Mr. Potts, an inhabit- 

 ant of the town of Berwick. The principal parti- 

 culars are as follows. 



At the latter end of the year, or in the month 

 of November, the Salmon begin to press up the • 

 river as far as they can reach, in order to spawn. 

 When that time approaches they seek for a place 

 fit for the purpose : the male and female unite in 

 forming a proper receptacle for it in the sand or 

 gravel, about the depth of eighteen inches : in this 

 the female deposits the spawn, which they after- 

 wards cover carefully up by mcans^ of their tails, 

 which are observed to have no skin on them for 

 some time after this period. The spawn lies 

 buried till spring, if not disturbed b}^ violent floods, 

 but the Salmon hasten to the sea as soon as they 

 are able, in order ' to recover their strength : for 

 after spawning they are observed to become very 

 lean, and are then called by the name of Kippers. 

 When the Salmon first enter the rivers they are 

 observed to have a great many small animals ad- 

 hering to them, especially about the gills : these 

 are the Leimcece Salmonem of Linnaeus, and are 

 signs that the fish is in high season : soon after the 

 Salmon have left the sea, the Lernaeae die, and 

 drop off. About the latter end of March the 

 spawn begins to exclude the young, which gra- 



