or FISHES. 
209 
SALMON. 
The Salmon is one of the most noble in- 
habitants of the sea, if we estimate him by 
his bulk, the sweetness of his flesh, or his 
colour. Some of the largest weigh upwards 
of thirty pounds, and are about five feet in 
length. The back is of a beautiful dark 
blue colour, ornamented with black spots ; 
towards the sides it gradually decreases to 
a silvery white; the belly is perfectly white. 
It has a little head, a sharp snout, and forked 
tail. At a certain season of the year they 
pass from the sea up the rivers, in order to 
deposit their spawn out of the reach of salt 
water. They subsist on earth-worms, min- 
nows, and other small fish. The flesh of 
the Salmon is red when raw, and turns 
paler when boiled 
14 
