THE SALMON, 
2J* 
511 ale unite in digging a pit of eighteen inches deep, into 
which the former eje&s his fmelt, and the latter her 
fpawn: The place is carefully covered up with their 
tails, which at that period are worn bare. In this ft ate, 
the fpawn lies buried from December till Spring, if not 
difturbed by violent floods ; while, in the mean time, the 
parent fillies haften back to purify and firengthcn them- 
lelves in the fea ; for, after fpaWning, they are lean and 
flabby. It is when they firft leave the fea that they are 
plump and vigorous ; and i'uch as are in that condition 
have a number of infe&s adhering to them above the 
gills *. 
About the latter end of lyiarch, the ova begin to ex- 
clude the young falmon,, which are then refufcitated, and 
fwarm in numbers, of which it is difficult to form any 
idea. They are then termed fry in Scotland, and fmelts 
in the fouth of the ifland ; and they remain in the frefh 
water till the arrival of a flood, by which they are fwept 
down into the fea. In June, the young falmon begin tp 
appear again in the rivers, in dropping Angle fifli : there 
they increafe with amazing rapidity in fize ; for in June, 
when they appear firft in the rivers, they are only about 
a foot or fourteen inches in length ; and in ^uguft fome 
are feen eight and nine pounds. 
The quick growth of the fal con is by no means oc- 
cafioned by the voracity of thefe fifh. ; for all the fiiher r 
men agree, that no food is ever found in their ftomach. 
Perhaps this may be owing to a temporary riegiedt of 
food about the feafon of fpawning or fecundation, as is 
the cafe with the fea-lions. It is well known that thp 
I i 2 angler 
* The Icma.-e Salmone.-e, Lin. Syft, 
