168 
SALMON. 
do not consist of an incongruous multitude. By some of these 
the land is reached at a distance from their ultimate destination, 
so that they will have to pass along towards it by the windings 
of the shore j and their actions then are frolicsome, by often 
leaping out of the water to the height of three or four feet, 
and falling back again on their side without appearing to make 
a progress, or desiring to do it. But it has been often noticed 
that, however strange it may be they should find out each 
other, those only have become associated which belong to a 
single river; towards which they hold their way in some 
regular order, while each lesser division of which the hosts 
consists is so well acquainted with, and attracted to its own 
branch of the stream, .that if not forcibly driven out of its 
course, it will quit the larger body, or pass by some inviting 
streams, to enter the favourite district in which it first saw 
the light; a circumstance the more surprising when we call to 
mind the early age at which many of them left it and their 
various wanderings afterwards in the ocean. It has been observed 
that the fish of two rivers which even lie near each other, 
when coming from the sea, are not accustomed to unite into 
one assemblage, but that they arrange themselves and proceed 
onward in separate hosts. But when these companies have 
reached the mouth of the river they arc often found to linger 
there; and then it is especially that they find enemies waiting 
for them, in the Grampus, Porpus, and Seal, which infiict 
upon them no small terror as well as devastation. A cause of 
this delay may be a want of a sufficient quantity of water in 
the river, at a time perhaps when a warm season has brought 
them onward prematurely; and even the appearance of the sky, 
whether bright or gloomy, will have an influence. The prospect 
of a fall of rain is soon acknowledged and acted on; for it is 
surprising to perceive how quickly fish become aware of atmos- 
pheric changes, or even the prospect of them. But the hindrance 
may continue for a week or two, until a fresh rush of water 
excites them, and then they pass rapidly upward to the genial 
depth of the flowing stream. 
According to the very precise account given us by Bloch, 
Salmon are accustomed to enter a river in two ranks, which 
form two sides of a triangle; and the stoutest fish, which is 
usually a female, leads the march, while at about a fathom 
