176* SALMON. 
their rivers in great abundance. All the different 
kinds are said to be found there, and it has been 
noticed that each shoal keeps apart from others of 
different species, and frequently prefers a separate 
river, notwithstanding the mouths may be almost 
contiguous. They swim in such numbers as to force 
the water before them, and even to dam up the 
rivers, and make them overflow their banks ; inso- 
much that on the fall of the water great multitudes 
are left on the dry ground, and would probably 
cause a pestilence by rotting there, if they were 
not fortunately dispersed by the violence of the 
winds, assisted by the bears and dogs who prey on 
them, and thus lessen the ill effects. Salmon are 
said to remember the spot where they have once 
spawned, and to return to it again. M. de la Lande, 
who fastened a small ring of copper to the tails of 
some of them, and then set them at liberty, was as- 
sured by the fishermen that they returned to the 
same place for three succeeding seasons. 
The best account we have of the salmon fishery 
has been collected by Mr. Pennant, wdio received 
some interesting communications from Mr. Potts of 
Berwick. To these observations we chiefly stand 
indebted for what follows. 
At the latter end of the year, or in the month of 
November, the salmon begin to press up the rivers 
as far as they can reach in order to spawn ; when 
that time approaches, they search for a place fit for 
their purpose, where the male and female unite in 
forming a proper receptacle for their ova in the 
