SALMON. 
178 
being nine pounds in weight. Their growth in- 
deed is remarkably quick, as the following instance 
will sufficiently prove. A gentleman at Warring- 
ton took a kipper salmon weighing seven pounds 
and three quarters on the seventh of February ; 
after having marked the fish on the back, fin, and 
tail, with scissars, he turned it into the river; on the 
seventeenth of March following the same salmon 
was again taken, and then weighed seventeen pounds 
and a half. 
All fishermen agree that they never find any food 
in the stomach of these fish ; this is singular, as it 
is evident that at times they feed both on fish and 
worms ; for the angler uses both with good success, 
as well as a large gaudy artificial fly. 
About the month of July a prodigious number of 
salmon are caught in the Tweed: in a good fishery, 
often a boat load, and sometimes near two, are 
taken in a tide ; it is very common to take from 
fifty to a hundred at a haul ; and it is even said that 
some years ago above seven hundred were taken 
at once in this manner. At this season many are 
salted, and afterwards packed in barrels for ex- 
portation, having then far more than the London 
markets can possibly take off their hands. Most 
of the salmon taken in the spring is sent to Lon- 
don in baskets, unless the vessel is prevented by 
contrary winds from sailing immediately ; in that 
case the fish is brought ashore again to the coopers’ 
offices, and after being boiled, pickled, and kitted. 
