HARVARD UNIVERSITY.

LIBRARY
OF THE

MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY

Library of

SAMUEL GARMAN

>Tt/ Vt'VULcA___

SALMONIA.

By

the

same Author,

CONSOLATIONS IN TRAVEL; OR, THE LAST DAYS

OF A PHILOSOPHER,
Illustrations.

Fcap. 8vo.

$1-50.

ADVEKTISEMENT TO THE EOUBTH

EDITION.

This Edition

is

printed from a copy of

Salmoxia

which had been revised by the Author shortly before

his

decease.

The few

alterations,

additions,

and

omissions which have been made, are either chiefly

from

his dictation, or in

compliance with instructions

expressed by him at the time.

Some Notes
them

are subjoined

and appended, most of

relating to facts recently ascertained

they are

distinguished by being inserted in brackets, and by

the initials of the Editor.

J.

Lesketh How, Ambleside,

Dec. 7th. 1850.

D.

PEEFACE.

viii

and long-continued attention

and he could not but

have in mind a model, which has fully proved the

utility

and popularity of

subject

The
tions,

The Complete

method

this

Angler,

of treating the

by Walton and Cotton.

characters, chosen to support these Conversa-

are

Halieus,

accomplished

fly-fisher

who
;

supposed to

is

Oexithee, who

be

an

to

be

is

regarded as a gentleman generally fond of the sports

of the field,

though not a finished master of the

of angling

Poietes, who

is

enthusiastic lover of nature,

and

with the mysteries of fly-fishing

is

art

to be considered as an

partially acquainted

and Physicus, who

described uninitiated as an angler, but as a person

fond of inquiries in natural history and philosophy.

These personages are of course imaginary, though

the sentiments attributed to them, the Author

may

sometimes have gained from recollections of real

conversations with friends, from whose society
of the happiness of

and in the

portrait

Iris

of

early life has

the character

much

been derived
of

Halieus,

given in the last dialogue, a likeness, he thinks, will

not

fail

to be recognised to that of the character of a

PREFACE.

ix

most estimable Physician, ardently beloved by

friends,

He

and esteemed and venerated by the public*

has

limited

varieties of the

fins,

his

description

of

fish

to

the

Salmo most usual in the fresh waters of

Europe, and which

eight

his

may be

defined as a genus having

the one above the

tail

fleshy,

and without

spines.

It is to be

hoped M. Cuvier's new work on

will supply accurate information

is still

on

this genus,

fishes

which

very imperfectly known.

Laybach, Illykia.
Sept. 30tk, 1828.

[* That excellent
edition
in his

man

the late Dr. Babington, to

whom

the

first

was dedicated, " in remembrance of some delightful days passed

a
society, and in gratitude for an uninterrupted friendship of

It should be kept in mind, however, that

quarter of a century."
In the
it is in the last Dialogue only that the likeness is sustained.

other Dialogues, the personages are not to be identified with any

individuals entirely ; though here and there, in the sentiments ex-

and the pursuits attributed to them, features of likeness of

This is mentioned
distinguished friends of the Author may be traced.
I have been more than
as, notwithstanding the caution in the text,

pressed,

once asked
part

of

portrait.

who

readers

J.

D.]

are the originals represented; the disposition on the

seeming to be, to consider each throughout as a

CONTENTS.
DAY

FIRST
Vindication of fly-fishing

Fishing

guished

anglers

scientific

pursuit

sibility

history
to

Poem

of fly-fishing

human

life

natural,

Scenery Fish

Praise
Proposed

Walton

in praise of

PAR8

Distin-

philosophical,

possessed of

and
sen-

little

Field-sports related to natural

........

Comparison of a river

fishing excursion

17

SECOND DAY.

May-fly and
Escape
The

Flies

gray-drake

Object of fishing

of a fish after being

Trout-fishing

Alder-fly

hooked

Sense

Pricked
natural
Trout of the Colne Throwing the
Perch Anecdote
Trout describedSpots on
Management of a
Evening
Haunts
seasons Fishing season
when hooked

of smelling in fish

Baits

trout

fly

Local habits of animals

trout

fly

of trout

fish

fishing

Flies of different

Difference of the gillaroo from the

some

Ireland

or

Parr

Darwin

common

Gillaroo
samlet Other

tion of flies in

rivers

trout

varieties of

Experiment on

trout by

Diminu-

trout found only in

trout

Dr.

Mr. Tonkin of Polgaron

Mule Crossing the

Cause of
Impregnation of ova of Experiment of Mr.
Causes
the
hasten or
Jacobi on
point
ova Why
spawn
approach shallows
maturity
the varieties of trout
the

breed

that

this

of the

Admiration

fish

fish

retard
to

fish

of the designs of Providence

18

76

CONTENTS.

xii

THIRD DAY.
Morning

fishing

FAGS

Anecdotes

Effect of shadows in fishing

trating the effect of sunshine

Swallows

illus-

77

82

FOURTH DAY.

Eagles The inn The

Ewe Sea
Scenery Loch Maree
Poaching Highlander Salmon Cause
heing
Nature

drowned Salmon Death hy

Crimping The
death without
Sea
Value of temperance
dinner The double
river

trout

offish

of pain

suffocation

Instances of

trout

pain

in eating

snipe

Wading in boots a bad

trout compared Varieties of salmon

and drinking

practice

Salmon and

83

114

FIFTH DAY.

Produce a morning's Rivers of Norway

Salmon
Scotch
and Sweden English

The Sabbath day

Salmon

of

fishing

sport

rivers

rivers

Irish rivers

rivers

....
Instincts

animals what revelation

is

to

man

Instincts

to

115

148

SIXTH DAY.
Flies

Hooks Salmon
animals Salmon

of

the

fishing

Ewe

Sense

with parr

Omens

cations of rainy weather

of

in

smelling

Food of salmon Indi149 169

....

SEVENTH DAY.

Grayling Anatomy
Grayling fishing Scenery
Habits of the graylinggrayling
Grayling

gray Generation of Migration of The congei

of the

rivers

eels

ling

Baits for

eels

cel

170200

EIGHTH DAY.

Natural
Scenery
Bees

history Origin of the

and ants The libellula

common

house-fly

Ephemerae Michaelmas

daisy Humble bee Thoughts on death, suggested by

.

this

201221

CONTENTS.

xiii

NINTH DAY.

Hereditary instinct Causes of variety in

Fishing
trout Salmo hucho Taking a salmo hucho Resemblance
of the hucho to trout Interior of the hucho examined
Habits of the hucho Pleasure of angling Cockney
boats Amusements Sea serpent
men Lame boy and
for

PAGR

hucho

fisher-

his

Kraken Mermaid Austrian method conveying

Education The
continuous

Water
Angling
hucho Craniology
Umbla Laveret
The
hucho
Fat and
ocean Waterfalls
water Colour
Traun Colour
of

Effect

press

for

Difference of rivers

fish

of

fishing

ouzel

frogs

Organisation of the

Naturalisation of fish

of the

fiesh

of the

of

Reflections The

late

Mr. B. West

222282

ADDITIONAL NOTES.
On

the supposed cross-breed of the parr

the vitality of fish, and

On
On

the senses of fishes

On

how to prevent their

On

the scolopax

the colouring of the salmonidae

the structure of stomach of the gillaroo trout

parr

Queries

On

the

On the young trout

relative to the natural history of the trout

On the

localities of the charr

spawning
on quitting the egg
of the salmonidse
to the grayling

On

lingering death

On the
On the

and growth
and water most favourable

digestive powers

rivers

Use of the scales of the eel On the food of

283 305
breeding-place

the shelley, and

its

....

LIST OF ENGKAVINGS.

PA6H

HEADS OF THE AUTHOR, DR. WOLLASTON, AND DR. BABINGTON

From

Portraits

DENHAM

18

TROUT FROM THE COLNE

32

TROUT FROM THE WANDLE

37

LOCH

58

GILLAROO

MELVIN

PARR, OR SAMLET

...

59

63

GREAT LAKE TROUT

SALMO TllUTTA

SALMON SALMO SALAR

MARINA

SEA TROUT

83

83
115

HALSTADT LAKE AND TOWN

THE TEME.

GROUNDS

OF

DOWNTON, FROM A SKETCH BY

149

MRS. STACKHOUSE ACTON

LEINTWARDINE, ON THE TEME, FROM A SKETCH BY MRS.

170

STACKHOUSE ACTON

180, 182

GRAYLING

DOWNTON

CASTLE,

ON THE TEME, FROM A SKETCH BY MRS.

201

STACKHOUSE ACTON
PHRYGANE.E, WITH THEIR IMITATIONS ON HOOKS

.210

LIST OF ENGRAVINGS.

xvi

PAGE

EPHEMERA, WITH THEIR IMITATIONS ON HOOKS

212, 214

TRAUN FALL

222

SALMO HUCHO

231

CHARR OF WINDERMERE AND

OF

HAWES WATER, AND

GWTNIAD, OR SCHELLY, OF HAWES WATER

LMBLA
GRUNDTL LAKE, UPPER AUSTRIA

.260
262

282

SALMONIA;
OR,

DAYS OF FLY FISHING.

SALMONIA.

I ought

HAL.

to

know,

as

[first day.

was

it

this

morning in

the waters of the Wandle, not ten miles from the

place where
see

it

you
PHYS.

we

and

sit,

it is

through

my

means that

at table.

Of your own catching

Yes, with the
PHYS.I admire the
but I cannot admire
?

HAL.

artificial

fly.

fish,

art

by which

it

of your active

was taken ; and I wonder how a

mind and

enjoy what appears to

the

man

enthusiastic character can

me

a stupid and melancholy

occupation.

HAL.

man

I might

as well

wonder in

my

turn, that a

of your discursive imagination and disposition to

contemplate should not admire this occupation, and

that

you should venture to

call it either

stupid or

melancholy.

PHYS.

have at

least the

authority of a great

moralist, Johnson, for its folly.

HAL.

I will allow no man, however great a philo-

sopher, or moralist, to abuse an occupation he has not

tried

and

as well as I

remember,

tins

same

illustrious

person praised the book and the character of the great

Patriarch of Anglers, Isaac Walton.

PHYS.

There

who has abused

is

another celebrated man, however,

your patriarch, Lord Byron,

and that in terms not very qualified. He calls him,
"a
as well as I can
coxtins

recollect,

quaint old cruel

ISAAC WALTON.

first day.]

comb/' *

I must say, a practice of this great fisher-

man, where he recommends you to pass the hook

through the body of a frog with
loved him, in order to keep

but be considered as

HAL.

I do not

practice of

care, as

him

though you

alive longer,

cannot

cruel.

or the
justify either the expression

Walton

in this instance

but remember,

only with inanimate baits, or imitations of them,

and I will not exhume or expose the ashes of the

fish

dead, nor vindicate the

memory

of Walton, at the

expense of Byron, who, like Johnson, was no fisherbut the moral and religious habits of Walton,

man
his

manners, and

simplicity of

exonerate

book

of

his well-spent

life,

him from the charge of cruelty; and the

a coxcomb would not have been so great
most persons of refined

a favourite with

taste.

long distinguished at court for preeminent beauty and grace, and whose mind possesses

noble lady,

undying charms, has written some

of Walton, winch,
to

you

if

you

lines in

will allow

me, I

Albeit, gentle Angler, I

Delight not in thy trade,

From Don Juan, Canto xn.

"

And

Stanza cvi.

angling, too, that solitary vice,

"Whatever Izaac Walton sings or says

quaint old cruel coxcomb in his gullet

Should have a hook and a small trout to pull

my

copy

will repeat

The

it.*

SALMONIA.

Yet

\mvst da?.

in thy pages there doth lie

So much of quaint

simplicity,

So much of mind,

Of such good

kind,

That none need be

afraid,

Caught by thy canning

bait, this

book,

To be ensnared on thy hook.

Gladly from thee, I'm lured to bear
With things that seem'd most vile before,

For thou

didst on poor subjects rear

Matter the wisest sage might hear.
And with a grace,

That doth

efface

More labour'd works, thy simple

Can teach us that thy skilful lines,

More than

the scaly brood confines.

Our

and

hearts

senses, too,

we

lore

see,

Rise quickly at thy master hand,

And, ready to be caught by thee,

Are lured to virtue willingly.
Content and peace,

With health and ease,

Walk by thy side. At thy command

We

bid adieu to worldly care,

And

joy in

gifts that all

may

share.

Gladly, with thee, I pace along,

And

of sweet fancies

Waiting

till

some

dream

inspired song,

Within

my memory cherish'd
Comes fairer forth,
With more of worth,

Because that time upon

its

long,

stream

Feathers and chaff will bear away,

But

give to

gems

a brighter ray.

C. C.

1812.

A UTHORITIES FOR ANGLING.

first day.]

And though
tins

poem

is

the charming and intellectual author of

not an angler herself, yet I can quote the

example of her lovely daughters to vindicate fly-fishing

from the charge of cruelty, and to prove that the most

and refined minds can take pleasure in

delicate

One

innocent amusement.

am

told, is

fisher.

that of

of these

a most accomplished and

young

this

ladies,

skilful

salmon

And if you require a poetical authority against

Lord Byron, I mention the philosophical and

powerful poet of the lakes, and the author of

"

An

Orphic

tale indeed,

and passionate thoughts,

To their own music chanted ;*' *

who

is

Gay's

tale divine, of high

a lover both of fly-fishing and fly-fishermen.

poem you know, and

his passionate fondness for

the amusement, which was his principal occupation in

the summer at Amesbury ; and the late excellent John

Tobin, author of the

Honey Moon, was an

ardent

angler.

I am
HAL. Nay, I
PHYS.

with your poetical authorities.

can find authorities of all kinds,

satisfied

statesmen, heroes, and philosophers.

I can go back

to Trajan, who was fond of angling.

Nelson was t a

* The
Friend, page 303, hy S. T. Coleridge.
have known a person who fished with him at Merton, in the
I hope this circumstance will be mentioned in the next
Wandle.

edition of that

most exquisite and touching Life of our Hero, by the

monument raised by Genius to Valour.

Laureate, an immortal

SALM0N1A.
good

and

fly-fisher,

[fiest day.

as a proof of his passion for

continued the pursuit even with his

left

it,

Dr.

hand.

Paley was ardently attached to this amusement; so

much
of

when the Bishop

so, that

him, when one

be

finished,

he

of

Durham

inquired

of his most important works would

said,

with great simplicity and good

"

My Lord, I shall work steadily at it when

the fly-fishing season is over," as if this were a busihumour,

ness of his

And

life.

am

rather reserved in intro-

ducing living characters, or I could give a list of the

highest names of Britain, belonging to
in science, letters, arts,

modern

times,

and arms, who are ornaments

of tins fraternity, to use the expression borrowed from

the freemasonry of our forefathers.

PHYS.
ing

why

I do not

much

difficulty in

and even statesmen,

warriors,

whom

find

I have

understand-

fishers of

men,

known

many
particularly fond of
should
and
likewise
be attached to
shooting,
hunting
am
at
I
I
a
loss
to
find reasons for
own,
angling ; but
of

a love of this pursuit amongst pliilosophers and poets.

HAL.

The

search after food

ing to our nature

and most primitive

or a

fish,

is

an instinct belong-

and from the savage in

state,

who

destroys a piece of game,

with a club or spear, to

cultivated state of society,

his rudest

man

who employs

in the most
artifice,

ma-

chinery, and the resources of various other animals, to

secure Ins object, the origin of the pleasure

is similar,

PLEASURES OF ANGLING.

first day.]

and

its

most

object the

art

same

but that kind of

may be said to characterise

or intellectual state;

and the

man in

fisher for

it

requiring

his highest

salmon and

employs not only machinery to

physical powers, but applies sagacity to
conquer difficulties; and the pleasure derived from
ingenious resources and devices, as well as from active

trout with the

assist

fly

Ins

amusement.

pursuit, belongs to this

philosophical tendency,

it is

Then, as to

pline, requiring patience, forbearance,

of temper.

be vaunted

As connected with
as

demanding

its

a pursuit of moral disci-

and command

natural science,

it

may

a knowledge of the habits of

a considerable tribe of created beings

and the

fishes,

animals that they prey upon, and an acquaintance with

the signs and tokens of the weather and

its

changes,

the nature of waters, and of the atmosphere.

its poetical relations, it carries

As

to

us into the most wild

and beautiful scenery of nature, amongst the mounand the clear and lovely streams that gush

tain lakes,

from the higher ranges of elevated

hills,

or that

make

through the cavities of calcareous strata.

their

way

How

delightful in the early spring, after the dull

tedious time of winter,

the sunshine
forth

when

warms the

by some

and

the frosts disappear and

earth and waters, to wander

clear stream, to see the leaf bursting

from the purple bud, to scent the odours of the bank

perfumed by the violet, and enamelled, as it were,

SALMONIA.

10

[FIRST DAY.

with the primrose and the daisy ; to wander npon the

fresh tnrf below the shade of trees, whose bright

blossoms are

on

filled

with the mnsic of the bee

the surface of the waters to view the

sparkling like animated

gems

gaudy

and
flies

in the sunbeams, whilst

is
watching them from
below ; to hear the twittering of the water-birds, who,
alarmed at your approach, rapidly hide themselves

the bright and beautiful trout

beneath the flowers and leaves of the water-lily; and

as

the

season

advances,

to

find

all

these

objects

changed for others of the same kind, but better and

till

brighter,

the swallow and the trout contend as

it

were for the gaudy May-fly, and till in pursuing your

amusement in the calm and balmy evening, you are
serenaded by the songs of the cheerful thrush and

melodious nightingale, performing the

offices of pater-

nal love, in thickets ornamented with the rose and

woodbine.

PHYS.

All these enjoyments might be obtained

without the necessity of torturing and destroying an

unfortunate animal, that the true lover of nature

would wish to

HAL.

see

If all

happy in a scene of

loveliness.

men were Pythagoreans and

the Brahmin's creed,

it

professed

would undoubtedly be cruel

to destroy any form of animated

life

but

if fish

are to

be eaten, I see no more harm in capturing them by skill

and ingenuity with an artificial fly, than in pulling

SENSIBILITY OF FISH.

fibst day.]

11

them out of the water by main force with the net ;

common

and in general when taken by the

and to

fisherman,

suffer in the

fish

are permitted to die slowly,

air,

from the want of their natural element; whereas,

svery good angler, as soon as his fish

destroys his

him

3r returns

PHYS.

life

immediately,

if

he

is

and the

for food,

have

already

of the torture of

and the misery of

fear of capture,

struggling against the powerful rod

HAL.

landed, either

into the water.

But do you think nothing

the hook,

is

wanted

admitted

the

danger of

analysing, too closely, the moral character of any of

our field-sports
that

the

yet I think

nervous

system of

animals in general,

is less

blooded animals.

The hook

cartilaginous part of the

it

cannot be doubted

fish,

sensitive

and cold-blooded
than that of warm-

usually

is

fixed in the

mouth, where there are no

and a proof that the sufferings of a hooked

;
cannot be great is found in the circumstance, that

nerves
fish

though a trout has been hooked and played for some

minutes, he will often, after his escape with the artificial fly

in his

mouth, take the natural

fly,

and feed

had happened ; having apparently learnt

from
the
only
experiment, that the artificial fly is not
food.
And I have caught pikes with four or
proper
as if nothing

hooks in their mouths, and tackle which they had

broken only a few minutes before; and the hooks

five

SALMONIA.

12

seemed to have had no other

effect

[first day.

than that of serving

a sort of sauce piquante, urging them to seize

as

another morsel of the same kind.

PHYS.
the

way

cause

Fishes are mute, and cannot plead, even in

birds

that

and quadrupeds

yet the instances

their

do,

own

you quote only prove the

seem not so

intense character of their appetites, which

moderate as Winston imagined, in his strange philosophical romance on the Deluge ; in winch he supposes,
that in the antediluvian world the heat was
greater than in

animals had

tins,

and that

all terrestrial

so exalted

their passions

temperature, that they were lost in

for their

crimes

but that

sin,

and

much
aerial

by this high
and destroyed

living in a cooler

fish

element, were more correct in their

lives,

and were

therefore spared from the destruction of the primitive

world.

You

have proved,

intensity of the appetite of

by your examples, the

hunger in fishes

Spalanzani

has given us another proof of the violence of a different

appetite, or instinct, in a

cold-blooded animal, that

has most of the habits of the genus

the frog ; which,

in the breeding season, remains attached to the female,

though a limb, or even

body.

HAL.

This

is

his head, is

removed from the

likewise in favour of

my

argument,

that the sensibility of this class of animals to

physical

pain

is

comparatively small.

AGREEARLENESS OF ANGLING.

first dat.]

PHYS.

The advocates

13

for a favourite pursuit never

want sophisms to defend

it.

I have even heard

asserted, that a hare enjoys being hunted.

Yet I

it

will

allow that fly-fishing, after your vindication, appears

amongst the

least cruel of field-sports

I can go no

farther; as I have never thought of trying

say nothing of

its

agreeableness

compared with hunting and shooting.

HAL. I wish that you would allow

you, that for a contemplative

lover of nature,

it is

more

fitted for a

requiring

less

is

me

to convince

man,
you are, and a
more tranquil, more

far superior,

of early youth,

body and mind,

and pursued with

moderately active

violent

discretion, affording

There

I can

as

after the period

philosophical, and,

it,

an amusement,

as

exertion;

an exercise conducive to health.

a river, only a few miles

off,

where I

am

sure

I could obtain permission for you, and our friend

Poietes, to fish.

PHYS. I am open to conviction on all subjects,

and have no objection to spend one May-day with you
in this idle occupation

premising, that you take at

one other companion, who really loves fishing.

HAL. You, who are so fond of natural history,

least

even should you not be amused by

sure, find objects of interest

PHYS.

follow the

fear I
life

am

fishing, will, I

on the banks of the

am

river.

not entomologist enough to

of the May-fly, but I shall willingly

SALM0N1A.

14

[first day.

have nay attention directed to its habits.

Indeed, I
have often regretted that sportsmen were not fonder
of zoology

they have so

many

opportunities, which

other persons do not possess, of illustrating the origin

and

qualities of

some of the most curious forms

animated nature,

the

causes and

of

character of the

migrations of animals, their relations to each other,

and

their place

and order in the general scheme of the

me, that the two

It has always appeared to

universe.

great sources of change of place of animals, were the

providing of food for themselves, and resting-places

young. The great supposed migrations of herrings from the pole to the temperate zone
have appeared to me to be only the approach of

and food

for their

successive shoals from deep to shallow water, for the

purpose of spawning.

The migrations

of salmon and

trout are evidently for the purpose of depositing their

ova, or

of finding

Swallows, and
half the globe.

food after they have

bee-eaters, decidedly pursue

The scolopax

spawned.
flies

over

or snipe tribe, in like

manner, search for worms and

larvae,

flying

from

those countries where either frost or dryness prevents

them from

boring,

making

generally small flights at

a time, and resting on their travels where they find

And a journey from England to Africa is no

food.

more

for

hundred

an animal that can

miles

in

fly,

with the wind, one

an hour, than a journey

for

MIGRATIONS OF FISHES.

first day.

Londoner

15

And

to Ins seat in a distant province.

the

occasion
migrations of smaller fishes or birds always
the

migration

of larger ones, that prey

on them.

Thus, the seal follows the salmon, in summer, to the

'

months of

hawks

pilchard;

month
quails

rivers

the hake follows the herring and

are seen in great quantities, in the

May, coming into the east of Europe, after

and land-rails; and locusts are followed by
of

numerous

birds, that, fortunately for the agriculturist,

make them
HAL.

their prey.

It is not possible to follow the

amusement of

angling, without having your attention often directed

to the modes of life of fishes, insects, and birds, and

many

curious and interesting facts, as

upon your

were, forced

I consider you (Physicus),

observation.

as pledged to

it

make one

of our fishing party

and I

you an invitation to meet

a few worthy friends on the banks of the Colne. And

hope, in a few days, to give

you

(Poietes),

who, I know, are an

initiated disciple

of Walton's school, will, I trust join us.

endeavour to secure a fine day

carriage with

We

will

two hours, in a light

will carry us to our

ground ;
and I think I can promise you green meadows, shady
trees, the song of the nightingale, and a full and a

good horses,

clear river.

POIET.
cal

This

last is, in

object in nature.

my

opinion, the most poeti-

will

not

fail

to obey your

SALMON!A.

16

summons.
a river to

|f ir st i>av\

Pliny has, as well as I recollect, compared

human

I have never read the passage

life.

in Ins works, but I have been a hundred times struck

with the analogy, particularly amidst mountain scenery.

The

and

river, small

from rocks,

falls

clear in its origin, gushes forth

into deep glens,

and wantons and

meanders through a wild and picturesque country,

nourishing only the uncultivated tree or flower by

dew
it

In

or spray.

may be compared to

the

human mind in which

and strength of imagination

more beautiful than useful.

When

its

motions

is

the different

rills

stately

deep, strong, and

it

becomes

applied to

move

As

useful.

sea, it loses its force

were, becomes

it is

it

meadows, and to bear upon its

in this mature state, it is
barge ;

machinery, to irrigate

bosom the

fancy

are predominant

or torrents join, and descend into the plain,

slow and stately in

its

of infancy and youth,

this, its state

lost,

and

it

flows on towards the

motion, and at

its

last, as it

and mingled with the mighty

abyss of waters.

HAL.
and

One might pursue

the metaphor

say, that in its origin

when

it carries

impure,

it

down

clay

its

still

further,

thundering and foam,

from the bank, and becomes

resembles the youthful mind, affected by

And the influence of a lake, in

dangerous passions.
calming and clearing the turbid water, may be compared to the

effect of

reason in more mature

life,

when

FLIES.

FIRST DAY.J

17

the tranquil, deep, cool and unimpassioned

freed

from

foam.

its

fever,

And, above

its

all,

is

which

atmosphere

the sources of a river

may be

considered as belonging to the

and

termination in the ocean,

its

mind

troubles, bubbles, noise and

imaging the divine origin of the

may be regarded as
human mind, and its

being ultimately returned to and lost in the Infinite

and Eternal Intelligence from which

sprung.

it

originally

ft
>'

mm
ft\t

Si"

SECOND DAY.
EALIEUSPOIETESORNITHERPHTSICUS.
TROUT FISHING, DEXHAM.

MAY, 1810.

Morning.

HAL.

I am

delighted to see you,

on the banks of the Colne

to say, that
free

my

and

excellent host has not only

of the river for this day's

upon your dining with him,

evening fishing,

my worthy friends,
am happy to be able
made you

angling, but

wishes

insists

to try the

you
and the fishing to-morrow morning,

and proposes to you, in short, to give up twenty-four

hours to the delights of an angler's May-day.

FLIES.

SECOND DAY.]

POIET.

"We

deeply indebted to

are

know how we can

hardly

19

accept his

him

and I

without

offer,

laying ourselves under too great an obligation.

HA L.

he

is

as

man

noble-minded a

as

delighted in good offices; and so benevolent,

ever

am

that I

you

Fear not

sure he will be almost as happy in

are amused, as

knowing
and he

you can be in your sport

hopes for an additional satisfaction in the pleasure of

your conversation.
So let it be.
POIET.

HAL.

will

take you to the house;

you

shall

make your bow, and then you will be all free to follow
Remember, the dinner hour is
your own fancies.
five;

be

the dressing bell rings at half-past four;

punctual to tins engagement,

from winch you

will

be

free at seven.

POIET.
I

may

Tins

is

really a very

charming

villa scene,

The meadows

almost say, a pastoral scene.

have the verdure winch even the Londoners enjoy as

the English landscape.

a peculiar feature of
river

is clear,

and has

of the larger size,

all

there rapid, and here

still,

there tumbling in foam and fury over abrupt

upon clean

The

the beauties of a trout stream

and

dams

gravel, as if pursuing a natural course.

And

that island with

flies

making

it

their

fishing-house, are

all

its

poplars and willows, and the

summer

paradise,

in character;

and

and

its

little

not ex-

if

SALMONIA.

20

tremely picturesque,

from

it is at least

[second day.

a very pleasant scene,

verdure and pure waters, for the lovers of our

its

innocent amusement.

HAL. It is ten o'clock

you may put up your

master of this mansion, that everything

And

to our hands.

rods,

for so hospitable is the

or take rods from the hall;

Physicus, as

you

is

supplied

are the only one

of our party ignorant of the art of fly-fishing, I will

fit

you with a rod and flies ; and let me advise you

Hue shorter than your rod, and throw

to begin with a
at first slowly

and without

As

well as you can.

value

effort,

POIET.

my own

will

I shall put together

It

flies.

may be

make you an

my

You

are right

rod,

and

angler.

fish

with

fancy, but I always think

I do best with tackle with which I

HAL.

as

for precepts, they are of little

imitation
practice and

and imitate us

am

used to

fish.

for fancy is always something:

and when we believe that we can do things better in a

particular way,

nation,

we

really do,

perform them both

by the influence of imagiand with less effort.

better

I agree with moralists, that the standard of virtue should

be placed higher than any one can reach

to rise,

than

if

man will
no

effort

attain a

more

were made.

for in trying

excellent state of being

But

to our business.

As

far as the perfection of the material for the angler is

you find on tins table are as good

for this season of the year, there
and
can be made,

concerned, the
as

flies

FLIES.

8RC02TD DAT.]

21

no great variety on this river. AVe have had lately

some warm days, and though it is but the 18th of

is

May, yet I know the May-fly has been out for three
or four days, and this is the best period of this destrucThere

tive season for the fisherman.

many male
on the

flies

on the high

But I

see flies already

seem of various colours,

pale,

eagerly.

HAL.
alder

and some females

alders.

PHYS.

very

trees,

I observe,

are,

and

The

fly

on the water, which

brown and

gray, and

the

trout appear to rise at

you

see

called

is

some

them

by fishermen the

and appears generally in large quantities

Imitations of this fly, and of

fly,

before the May-fly.

the green and the gray drake, of different shades, are

the onlv ones vou will need this mornimr, though I

doubt
is

the last can be

if

much

used, as the gray drake

not yet on the water in any coiantity.

PHYS. Pray can you give us any account of these

curious

HAL.

little

animals

We

ought to draw upon your stores of

on these subjects.

science for information

PHYS.
I

am

really

know nothing

Entomology, but

desirous of accuiiring knowledge.

HAL.

I have

made few

philosophical naturalist.
at

of

another time. But

see,

observations on

What

know

the green drake

flies

as a

I will state

is

descending

SAL MO XIA,

22

upon the

water,

[second day.

and some are leaving the alders to

and to enjoy the pleasures of

sport in the sunshine,

their brilliant,

though short existence

naturally ephemeral,

is

made one

and

their

of scarcely a

life,

moment,

by the fishes and birds that which the swallow or the

duck spares is caught by the fish, The fly is new,
and in the imitation, I recommend the olive tint, or
:

what the Irish

artificial

fly,

call

the green

monkey

that

is,

an

with a wing of dyed yellow drake's

body of yellow monkey's fur, and a small

quantity of olive mohair for legs. Tor myself, I shall
fish for some time with a large red
alder-fly, and I
feather, a

dare say, with as

much

success

that

is,

with a

fly

with a dark peacock's harle for body, a red hackle

for legs,

and wings of the

above.

POIET.
fish

The water

I see on the feed

land-rail below,

quite in motion

is

and

starling

what noble

I never beheld a finer sight,

though I have often seen the May-fly on well-stocked

waters.

HAL.

This

river is

most strictlypreserved; not a fish

has been killed here since last August, and this

moment when

the large fish

come

is

to the surface,

the

and

leave their cad bait search

and minnow hunting. But I

have hardly time to talk

I have hold of a good fish

they take either the alder or May-fly, and having never

been fished for

tins year, they

make no

distinction,

and

BAITS.

SECOND DAT.]

23

greedily seize any small object in motion

You
fly;

on the water.

see the alder-fly is quite as successful as the

but there

is

a fish which has refused

May-

and because

it,

he has been feeding, glutton-like, on the May-fly

that is the fifth he has swallowed in a minute.
Now
:

I shall throw the drake a foot above

down, and he has taken

least

4 lbs.

This

is

greater

and once a
POIET.

you

One
fish

A fine

the largest fish

but in the deep water

fish.

it.

still

I think at

we have

yet seen,

lower down, there are

known taken

of 5 lbs. I have

little

It floats

liim.
fish

still

here,

short only of 6 lbs.

I have just landed a fish which I suppose

will consider as a small

one

yet I

am tempted

to kill him.

HAL.
is

He

is

not a

fish to kill

throw him back, he

much under
we

before,

2 lbs., and, as I ought to have told you

are not allowed to kill any fish of less size ;

and I am sure we
to carry

shall all

away even of

the well, or rather give

have more than we oucdit

tins size.

him

Pray put him into

to the fisherman to turn

back into the water.

POIET.
fishing

HAL.

I cannot

I lose

As

my

say I approve

of.

this

manner of

labour.

the object of your fishing, I hope, is

innocent amusement, you can enjoy tins, and show
your skill in catching the animal ; and if every fish
that took the May-fly were to be killed, there would

8ALM0N1A.

24

be an end to the sport in the

[SECOND DAY

river, for

none would

remain for next year.

PHYS.

The

number

of

seems to increase as

flies

the day advances, and I never saw a more animated

water scene

nature seems alive

all

even the water-

wagtails have joined the attack upon these helpless

and lovely creations from the waters.

HAL. It is now one o'clock ; and between twelve

and three

is

most vigour.
a quantity of

the time

when

It is a very
fly,

every

the May-fly rises with

warm

fish in

day,

and with such

the river will probably

below the wear, there are two

be soon feeding.

See,

large trout lately

come out ; and from the

quiet

way

in which they swallow their prey, and from the size

of the tranquil undulation that follows their rise, I

suspect they are the giants of this river.

cannot reach them

one

is

Try

if

you

near the bank in a con-

venient place for a throw, for the water

is

sufficiently

rough to hide the deception, and these large fish do

not take the fly well in calm water, though with
natural flies on the hook they might all be raised.

Alas he has broken me,

I have him
and carried away half my bottom line. He must have
been a fish of 7 or 8 lbs. What a dash he made

POIET.

He

carried off

HAL.

my

fly

You should

and your

line to

run

by main

force.

have allowed your reel to play

you held hhn too

tight.

sscotfD

THE NA TUBA L FL Y.

day]

He was too powerful

POIET.

and even

if

me by

broken

HAL.

had

clone

so,

25

a fish for

my tackle;

would probably have

running amongst the weeds.

Let

me

never allow a

you, my friend, you should

run to the weeds, or to strike

tell

fish to

you should carry him always down

stream, keeping his head high, and in the current.
If in a weedy river you allow a large fish to run up
across the stream

stream, you are almost sure to lose him.

have hooked the companion

other side of the stream,
tries,

him

see, to

you

make way

There, I

of your lost fish

on the

a powerful creature

he

to the weeds, but I hold

tight,

see you are obliged to run with him,

and have carried him safely through the weeds.
HAL. I have him now in the rapids on the shallow,

POIET.

fear of losing him, unless

and I have no

hook out

mouth.

of his

He
UAL. He
POIET.

springs again and again.

is

detached the

We

escape.

more

great

he strikes the

off;

steel,

in one of these somersets he

and he now leaps to celebrate his

this place, where there are

will leave
fish,

and return to

when the alarm produced by

it

our

after

a while,

operations

has

subsided.

PHYS.

That

fish

take the

artificial

rather surprising to me, for in its

fly at all

is

most perfect form

SALMON IA.

26

it

is

[second day.

but a rude imitation of nature

greedy manner in which

is

it

and from the

seized, fish,

I think,

cannot possess a refined sense of smell, or any nervous

system corresponding to the nasal one in animals that
breathe air

no scent can be given to water by an

none like that of the natural fly.

artificial fly, or, at least,

HAL.
believe,

the

The
is

principal use of the nostrils in fishes, T

to assist in the propulsion of water through

gills for

performing the

office of
respiration

but I

think there are some nerves in these organs which

give fishes a sense of the qualities of the water, or of
substances dissolved

in, or diffused

through

it,

similar

to our sense of smell, or, perhaps, rather our sense of

taste, for there

can be no doubt that fishes are attracted

by scented pastes and scented worms, which

times used by anglers

who employ

are some-

ground-baits

and

in old angling-books there are usually receipts for

attracting fish in this manner,

of

and though the absurdity

of these prescriptions

many

is

manifest, yet I do

not think this proves that they are entirely useless,

for, upon such principles, all the remedies for diseases
in the old pharmacopoeias would be null.*
*

[That the olfactory nerves

in fishes are destined for the

same

mammalia, seems hardly to admit of

considering the fact, that we can perceive odours
immersed in water this is easily proved by plunging

function as these nerves in the

doubt, especially

when

the head

is

the head in water to which some eau-de-Cologne or other scent has

been added

on drawing in the water through the

odour (as I have ascertained)

is

nostrils, the peculiar

distinctly perceived.

J.

D.]

PRICKED TROUT.

second day.]

With

respect to the

fly,

as

it

27

usually touches the

stream by a very small surface, that of the air-bubbles

on the fringes on its legs, it can scarcely affect the
it
any power of communicating
have
as you
seen, a ripple or motion on

water so as to give

And

smell.

the water

necessary to deceive fishes

is

look at the

fly

from below, they see

the legs and body, winch,

when the

those of the natural

may

fly,

and

as they

distinctly only

colours are like

easily deceive

them;

the wings, which are the worst imitated parts of the

seldom appear to them, except through

artificial fly,

the different refractive power of the moving water

and the atmosphere, and when immersed, they form

masses not unlike the wings of a drowned fly, or one

*****

wetted in

It

is

rising;.*

now

a quarter of an hour since

large pool: let us return to it;

we

left

the

I see the fish are

again rising.
*

[In confirmation of the above view, an anecdote may be given

power of the trout, communicated in

illustrating the discriminating

conversation

by the excellent

author

of

" The

British

Fishes."

In the neighbourhood of Gravesend, in a cottage-garden, some Trouts

have been kept, which have become almost tame and of large size,

which

visitors

are

in

the habit of feeding for amusement.

which Mr. Yarrell had thrown

in, for

want of other food

Frogs
to

give

them, they seized instantly, and swallowed unhesitatingly, but not

but retreated
so, a toad ; when it was thrown in, they dashed towards it,
before touching
of

its

it,

leaving

it

"sweltered venom."

afterwards free and unmolested, as

J.

D.]

if

aware

SALM0N1A.

28

POIET.

am

astonished

[second day.

It appears to

the very same fish are again feeding.

HAL.

can they be the same

that

same spot where they rose

fish rising nearly in the

before

me

There are two

fish ?

It is not likely that three

It is very possible.

other fish of that size should occupy the same haunts.

But

I thought after a fish had been hooked,

he remained sick and sulky for some time, feeling his

POIET.

wounds uncomfortable.
HAL.
same

hook

The

place,
;

fish that

and

I hooked

is

not rising in the

therefore, probably,

but one of these

that carried off your

fly,

was hurt by the

fish

seems to be the same

and

it

is

probable that the

hook only struck him in a part of the mouth where

there are no nerves ; and that he suffered little at the
moment, and does not now
POIET.

I have seen

He

fly.

Iris

him take

I shall throw over him.

the

feel

annoyance.
four or five

flies

There, he rose, but refused

has at least learnt, from the experiment

he has made, to distinguish the natural from the

artificial fly.

HAL.

This, I think, always happens after a fish

has been hooked with an

and

artificial

fly.

He

becomes

seldom caught that year, at least

with the same means in the same pool
but I dare
cautious,

is

say that fish might be taken with a natural

what

is

better,

two upon the hook.

fly

or,

TROUT OF THE COLNE.

second dat.]

Pray

HAL.
am no
POIET.

try him.

Ornither I

let

him

play; and

where

this

method

try Ins fortune,

make the

Pray

is

hardly

by any means.
ORN. You

fair

that I encourage

fish,

make no

the

apologies for

certainly a monster for tins

fish

usual.

essay.

should be caught by

as

it is

though

him

Such a

of fishing

rather to endeavour to recover your

it is

than for the sake of the

to

June with the clubs

fished in

tackle,

POIET.

kind of angling, but

artist at this

know has

at Stockbridge,

Pray

29

fair

lost that fish,

will see, if I

if

means,

possible,

you
flies on the hook with some regret and some

remember a lady

of cruelty, as I

Ins size,

I put

I will not employ another person to be

but caught

and you overrate

have good luck.

trial.

river

my

my

live

disgust.

minister

of fashion once did,

and who
very fond of fishing for perch,
nine
of
years of
employed her daughter, a little girl

who was

hook through the body of the worm

good wind, and the fish has just taken

age, to pass the

Now there

is

a natural

fly.

I shall drop the

within a few inches of his nose.

is

caught

I must carry him

the bed of weeds above.

flies,

He

if

possible,

down stream

to avoid

now have him on

ground, and he fights with vigour.

silkworm gut is very strong, for he

He

has risen.

fair

Fortunately,
is

not a

fish to

my
be

SALMONIA.

30

He

trifled with.

We

have him

lower jaw

begins to be tired

discovered that the

fly,

probably, was scarcely

That

fish evidently

had

was a dangerous bait,

which was on a hook, arid

fly

the silkworm gut must have been visible.

HAL.
hook.

known

I do not think he saw

either the gut or the

and water, I have
weather
In very bright
baited with the
very shy fish refuse even a hook

natural

scared probably by some appearance of

fly,

The

or gut.

not ruffled

is

vision of fishes

eye.*

PHYS.

when the

You

the hook of an

just

now

them

be scarcely visible to

my

said, that a fish

pricked by
would not usually take it

artificial fly

again that season.

HAL. I cannot be exact on that point

known

surface is

I have seen

sufficiently keen.

rise at gnats so small as to

I have

a fish that I have pricked retain his station in

the river, and refuse the

*

his

artificial fly

yet he took the natural

hook

prepare the net.

and see yonr link hangs to

safe,

by him.
PHYS. I am surprised

when

the hook had struck the cartilage on the

ontside of the bone, and the

felt

[secon-d day.

artificial fly,

[If the stomach of a trout be examined

often very

many

different species will be

and small, some so small

when

after day,

day
flies

are abundant,

found amongst

its

contents,

be distinguished with difficulty

marking equally the acuteuess of vision of the fish and its industry and

large

as to

pains-taking in procuring sustenance.

J.

D.]

TROUT DESCRIBED.

second day.]

31

weeks together j but his memory may have been

seems
kept awake by this practice, and the recollection
for

local

and

if

chased into another pool, he

will,

and associated with surrounding objects

a pricked trout

is

believe, soon again take the

objects around

him

artificial fly.

are changed, as in

Or

if

the

Autumn, by

the decay of weeds, or by their being cut, the same

thing happens; and a flood, or a rough wind, I
believe, assists the fly-fisher, not merely by obscuring the

vision of

the

fish,

but, in a river

much

changing the appearance of their haunts

fished,

by

large trouts

almost always occupy particular stations, under, or

close to, a large stone or tree; and, probably,

most

of their recollected sensations are connected with this

dwelling.

PHYS.
of

I think I understand

you, that the

memory

the danger and pain does not last long, unless

is a
permanent sensation with winch it can
remain associated, such as the station of the trout ;

there

and that the recollection of the mere form of the

artificial

ORN.

fly,

without this association,

You

are

is

evanescent.

diving into metaphysics

think, in fowling, I have observed that the

of birds

is local.

yet I

memory

woodcock, that has been much

shot at and scared in a particular wood, runs to the

where he has usually escaped, the moment he

hears the dogs; but if driven into a new wood, he
side

SALM0N1 A.

32

[SECOND DAT.

seems to lose his acquired habits of caution, and

becomes stupid.
POIET.
Tins great fish, that Ornither has just
caught, must be nearly of the weight I assigned to him.

HAL.
6 lbs.

Oh no

he

is,

I think, above 5 lbs., but not

but we can form a more correct opinion by

measuring him, which I can easily do, the butt of my

He measures, from nose to
rod being a measure.
fork, a very little less

than twenty-four inches, and

consequently, upon the scale which

well-fed trouts, should weigh

within an ounce, I doubt not,

is

5 lbs.
is

appropriate to

lOoz.

which,

Ins weight.

Trout from the Colne.

Oh

I see you take the mathematical law,

that similar solids are to each other in the triplicate

PHYS.

ratio of

HAL.

one of their dimensions.

You

are right.

TROUT OF THE COLNE.

second day.]

PHYS.

But

this appears to

HAL. He

33

I tliink you are below the mark, for

me

is

not so thick as

to be an extraordinarily thick fish.

a well-fed

my

fish,

but,

in proportion,

model, which was a fish of 17

inches by nine inches, and weighed 2 lbs.

standard

solid.

We

Ho

will try him.

bring your scales, and weigh this

see,

he weighs 5

PHYS.

lbs.

Well, I

fish.

this is

Mrs. B.

my
!

There, you

10 ^oz.

am

pleased to see this

and

fish,

amused with your sport; but though I have been

imitating you in throwing the fly, as well as I can,
yet not a trout has taken notice of my fly, and they
seem scared by my appearance.
HAL. Let me see you perform.

good

trout taking

can reach.
water,

flies

You threw

too

much

and scared them both ; but I

the rapid of the

There are two

opposite that bank, which

line

will take

Tumbling Bay, where the

you
the

into

you to

river falls

there the quickness of the stream will prevent your

line

from

falling deep,

and the foam

person from the view of the

fish.

will conceal

And

let

me

your

advise

you to fish only in the rapids till you have gained

some experience in throwing the fly. There are several
fish rising in that stream.

I have
but he
HAL. Now you have
but he
PHYS. I am
PHYS.

raised one,

delighted

refused

my

fly.

fish.

is

a small one.
D

SALM0N1A.

34

HAL.

Unluckily,
I have now

it is

PUTS.

[second day.

a dace.

a larger

fish,

which has pulled

out.

my line
HAL

is a good trout. Now

and
wind up ; he is tired,
your own. I will land hhn.
He is a fish to keep, being above 2 lbs.

Give him time. That

PHYS.

I am
There

well pleased.

HAL.

are

many

fishing,

and you

will

hook some of them.

you

larger trouts here

are tired of this rapid,

you

And

quarter of a mile below.

short line, and drop your

fly,

Poietes,

POIET.

but the

And when

continue to fish with a

or let

it

be carried by

my

fish, all

been fishing in the stream above

artificial fly,

of

and I have caught only

which the fisherman has thrown into

the water, though I

than 2

Well,

are so abundant, that the large fish will

flies

not take
three

I have

go on

will find another a

the wind on the water, as lightly as possible.

what success

am

sure one of

them was more

lbs.

You may

knowledge with a new

be
apt rather to favour the
angler, our keeper would
But we will have all fish
fisherman than the fish.

HAL.

you wish

to

be

trust his

killed,

and above 2

lbs.,

put into the

well of the boat, where they can be examined, and, if

as are
you desire, weighed and measured, and such kept

worth keeping.

No

good angler should

kill a fish, if

TROUT DESCRIBED.

second day;

he

till

possible,

sooner he

is

35

needed to be crimped;

is

for

the

dressed after this operation the better;

and I assure you, a well-fed trout of the Come, crimped

and cooled ten minutes before he is wanted for the
kettle or the gridiron, is a fish little inferior to the

best salmon of the best rivers.

and there

o'clock,

becoming

less

is

It

now

is

abundant ; you are now

to have better sport.

nearly two

a cloud over the sun

the

fly

is

likely, Poietes,

in that deep pool below the

Try
Tumbling Bay ; I see two or three good
The
there, and there is a lively breeze.

fish rising

largest fish

again and again ; try the others.

have
hooked him now carry him down
There, you
stream, and keep Iris head high, out of the weeds.
refuses your fly

He

he is the
plunges and fights with great force ;
best-fed fish I have yet seen at the end of the line,

and
will

weigh more, in proportion to

There he is,
land him for you.

will

19 inches; and I dare say

We

short of 3 lbs.

POIET.
over

Iris

his weight

will preserve

He has hardly any

him

spots,

length.

and measures
not

is

much

in the well.

and

is

and the whole of the lower part of

silvery all

Iris

body

is

beautifully clean.

HAL.

He

is

likewise broad-backed

and you mav

observe his few spots are black, and these are very
small.

I have always remarked, in this river, that

the nearer the fish approach to perfection, the colour

d2

SALMONIA.

36

[second day.

body becomes more uniform, pale olive above,

and bright silver below; and these qualities are always
of the

connected with a small head,

and deep-red

POIET.

or rather, an oval body,

flesh.

May not

the red spots be marks of disease

? for I observed in a very

a hectic kind of beauty

fish, and great-headed, that I caught

an hour ago, which had leeches sticking to it, a

thin and poor

and a long black back, and

black or bluish marks even on the belly.

number

of red spots,

HAL.
disease

do not think

for I

have seen

red

spots a

symptom

fish in other rivers,

of

and even

small fish in this river, in perfectly good season, with

red spots

but the colours of

fish are

very capricious,

and depend upon causes which cannot be

easily

not in the

scales,

defined.

The colouring matter

is

but in the surface of the skin immediately beneath

them, and

is

probably a secretion easily affected by

I have known fish, from

the health of the animal.

some lakes in Ireland, mottled in a most singular

way,

their colour being like that of the tortoise

the

nature of the water, exposure to the light, and probaI think

the kind of food, produce these effects.
bly
it

possible,

when

trout feed

much on hard

substances,

such as larvae and their cases, and the ova of other

This
they have more red spots, and redder fins.
feed
who
and
the
the case with the gillaroo
char,

fish,
is

SPOTS OX TROUT.

SECOND DAT.]

37

on analogous substances j and the trout, that have

similar habits, might be expected to resemble them.

Sir
-i^>.

-v

Trout lroin the Wandle.

AVhen trout feed most on small

fish, as

minnows, and

flies, they have more tendency to become spotted

with small black spots, and are generally more silvery.

on

The Colne

trout are, in their advanced state, of this

kind ; and so are the trout called in Ireland buddocks

and dolochans, found in Lough Neah.

character becomes hereditary, and the

Particular
effects

of a

peculiar food influence the appearance of the next

generation.
sport.

ORN.

I hope, Ornither, you have had good

Excellent

Since you

left

me, below the

wear, I have hooked at least fifteen or twenty good

fish,

and landed and saved eight above 2 lbs. ; but I

fish like the great one which I caught

have taken no

SALMONIA.

38

by poaching with the natural

[second day.

The trout

flies.

rose

wonderfully well within the last quarter of an hour,

but they are

now

all

still

in such active motion,

and the

now

is

river,

which was

and

perfectly quiet,

seems asleep and almost dead.

HAL.

It

is

heavy clouds

four

past
are

come

o' clock,

on,

the

and some dark,

fly is

It is

off.

almost the hour for the signal of the dressing bell

nothing more to be done now till evenBut see our host is come to examine our fish

and there
ing.

is

and to inquire about our sport ; and, I

will order some of our fish to be dressed for

in the well,

dare say,

the table.

I hope, gentlemen, you have been amused?

HAL. Most
As a proof
and one
the
good
HOST.

are in

not

fish-well

much

of

sir.

highly,

eighteen

short of 6 lbs.

there

it,

trout,

three above 4 lbs.

four above 31bs. in weight.

and

I hope you will order

that great fish for your dinner.

HOST.

"We

He

will see.

a present, even for a prince

to a prince.

the two next

Here
sizes,

is

fish,

winch I

Prepare them, fisherman.

is

a fine

and you

fish,

and

fit

shall take

for

him

and there another, of

am

sure will cut red.

And, Halieus, you

shall

catch two or three perch, for another dish

some good ones below the

I saw them hunting small fish

yesterday

there are

know

piles of the

wear ;

there

PERCH.

6EC0XD DAT.]

Some minnows, ho

morning.
rods

HAL.

minnow

am

and

and would

tired, sir,

Come,

I have

nearly a

the

perch

willingly avoid

I will be a fisher for the

then,

one

and

another, that will weigh

Now, there is a cunning

my minnow ; I know he is a

pound

a-piece.

perch that has stolen

He has robbed
large one.
if

fishing after such a morning's sport.

HOST.
table.

39

me

again and again

and

I fish on in this way, with the hook through the

upper

lip, will,

I dare say, carry

away

all

the

minnows

I shall put on a strong small hook, on

in the kettle.

a stout, though

fine, gut,

with slender wire round the

top, and pass the hook through the back fin of the
I
minnow, and try my sagacity against his. Lo
!

have him

and a very strong

fish

the bottom
the river,

He must
Kill

is,

and gone

to

but even though the greatest perch in

;
he cannot bite the gut, he will soon be

and taken.

tired

he

He now

be above 3 lbs.

comes up, and

is

landed.

a magnificent

perch!

him and crimp him, fisherman; take our two

trout,

and the three perch, to the kitchen, and

them be dressed
dish of

fish,

as usual.

You

shall

let

have a good

worthy of such determined anglers.

But

I see one of your party coming up by the side of the

river,

who seems

HAL.

It

is

tired

and out of

Physicus,

who

spirits.

has this day commenced

SALMONIA.

10

[SECOND DAY.

and who, I dare say, has

been as successful as the uninitiated generally are.
I hope you have followed my advice, and been
his career as a fly-fisher,

fortunate

PHTS.

I caught two

trout in the rapid where you

but
were
me;
small, and the fisherman
they
threw them in. Below the wear, in the quick stream,

left

I caught two

and, what astonished

dace,

me

very

much, a perch, which you see here, and winch I

thought never took the

HAL.
is

yes,

below the surface

PHIS.

my

fly

By

fly.

sometimes ; and particularly when

it

and what more ?

creeping on

my

knees, and dropping

over the bank, I hooked a very large fish

which I saw

rising,

and winch was

salmon ; but

like a

he was too strong for my tackle, ran out all my line,

and at last broke off by entangling my link in a post
in the river.
I have been very uiducky
I am sure
!

that fish was larger than the great one Ornither took

with the natural

HAL.

fly.

Come, you

begin to take

an

despair of your

have been

and I do not

becoming a distinguished angler.

and some patience but I am

PETS.With time

sorry I tortured that

him.

HAL.

and I see

initiated,

interest in the sport,

enormous

fish

without taking

dare say he was a large fish

but I have

ANECDOTE.

second dat.i

known

41

very correct, and even cool, reasoners in error

on a point of this kind. You are acquainted with

Chemicus ; he is not an ardent fisherman, and certainly
not addicted to romance
respecting him.

spot last year,

He

on a

I will

tell

accompanied

visit to

to this very

our host, and preferred

angling for pike to fly-fishing.

of a morning, he brought

you an anecdote

me

After the amusement

back with him to the house

one pike, and with some degree of disappointment

complained that he had hooked another of an enor-

mous

size, which carried off his tackle by main force,

and which he was sure must have been above 10 lbs.

At

dinner, on the table, there were

the fish
little

two pikes ; one

that Chemicus had caught, and another a

larger,

somewhat more than 3

lbs.

"We put

some questions as to who had caught this second

pike, winch we found had been taken by our host,
who smiling, and with some kind of mystery, asked
Chemicus

if

he thought

it

weighed 10

lbs.

Chemicus

refused to acknowledge an identity between such a

fish

and the monster he had hooked; when my

some

friend took out of his pocket a paper containing

hooks and tackle carefully wrapped up, and asked

Chemicus if he had ever seen such an apparatus.

Chemicus owned they were the hooks and tackle the

" And I found
them,"
great fish had carried away.
said our friend,

"in the mouth

of that little fish

SALMONIA.

42

which you see on the

an hour ago."
HOST.

dote, but I

of

table,

[second day

and winch I caught

half

I answer for the correctness of tins anec-

do not sanction

our novitiate

its

application to the case

I have

in angling.

seen a fish

under that bank where he was so unfortunate, which

I am sure was above 41bs., and which I dare
say was
the subject of his unsuccessful experiment.

POIET.

From what our host has

just said, I con-

clude, Halieus, that fish do not usually change their

stations.

HAL.

Large

trouts unquestionably do not;

they

always hide themselves under the same bank, stone,

stock, or weed, as I said this

come out from

their

and when they have

morning

fled to their

taken there by the hand ;

is

them, his place

quits for

PHYS.

it

is

is

and small

by the force of the current

rarely unoccupied

too late in

may be

A favourite

an eddy behind a
fishes are carried

and such haunts are

for if a fish is taken out of one of

soon supplied by another, who

a less convenient situation.

So

required to

and

this circumstance

founded.

place for a large trout in rivers

flies

haunt, they

and on

the practice of tickling trout

rock or stone, where

before,

permanent habitations to feed

much knowledge and practice

become a proficient, that I am afraid it

life

for

me

to begin to learn a

new

art.

is

is

EVENING FISHING.

secoxd day.]

HAL.

Do

There was

not despair.

must say there

was an

43

alas

that I

illustrious philosopher,

who

was nearly of the age of fifty before he made angling

a pursuit, yet he became a distinguished fry-fisher,

and the amusement occupied many of his

hours during the last twelve years of his
indeed, applied

and

He,

pre-eminent acuteness, his science,

Iris

his philosophy to aid the resources,

pleasures of this

leisure

life.

and

exalt the

I remember to have

amusement.

seen Dr. Wollaston, a few days after he had become

a fly-fisher, carrying at

his

button-hole a piece of

caoutchouc, or Indian rubber, when, by passing

Iris

silkworm link through a fissure in the middle, he

rendered it straight and fit for immediate use. Many
other anglers will
of

my

remember other ingenious devices

admirable and ever-to-be lamented friend.

(TJiey go to dinner.)

{They return from the house.)

EVENING.

HAL. You
well

have,

am

sure,

gentlemen, dined

no one ever dined otherwise in

a beautiful calm evening, and

this house.

It

many
might be
caught where we fished in the morning ; but I will
take you to another part of the river ; you shall each

is

fish

8ALM0NIA.

44

catch a

fish,

and then we

will

[second day.

give

over;

for

the

evening's sport should be kept till a late season,

when there is little fly on in the
July or August,

day-time and it would be spoiling the diversion of

our host, to catch or prick all the fish in the
upper
water j and with a gentleman so truly liberal, and so
:

profuse of his means of giving pleasure to others, no

improper liberties should be taken. I shall not fish
myself, but shall have
It

sport.

slowly

up

on the

my

pleasure in witnessing your

must be in a

boat,

and you must

steal

the calm water, and

glide like aerial beings

surface,

making no motion in the water, and

Your fly must be an orange or

showing no shadow.

brown palmer with a yellow body ; for the gray drake

not yet on the water. The fish here are
large, and

is

the river weedy, so you must take care of

your fish

and your tackle.

POIET. We have

at least passed over half-a-mile

of water, and have seen

no

fish rise

yellowish or reddish fly in the

a drake,

yet there

is

winch moves

like

and there are clouds of pale brown

flies

encircling the alders.

Now

air,

I tlnnk I see a large

trout rise below that alder.

EAL.

That

place now, and

is

not a trout, for he

is

probably a large roach or chub

not waste your time upon him.

know

a large trout

when

rises in a different

You may

do

always

feeding in the evening.

He

EVENING FISHING.

second day.]

rises

45

water almost always in the same place,

little

the

and makes

continuously, or at small intervals,

noise,

mouth

barely elevating Ins

in a

to

still

suck in

and sometimes showing Ins back-fin and tail.

large circle spreads around him, but there are
fly,

seldom any bubbles when he breaks the water, which

We will wait a few
usually indicate the coarser fish.
minutes

sun

know

on the water.

Take

up.

fly,

or

here,

dun

and throw
ORN.

is

HAL.

rose,

before

Try

fish,

and do

you are sure you can reach the

till

above the

at least half-a-yard

He

moment

coming

another thirty yards higher

your line out in another part of

care, get

the water, and in order, for reaching the

not throw

cut,

and the

See, beneath that alder is a trout

and now there

rising,

must be trout

there

and the yellow

is setting,

my

I suppose, at a natural
fly

spot,

fish.
fly,

the

touched the water.

You

again.

have hooked him, and

you have done well not to strike when he rose. Now

hold him tight, wind up your line, and carry him

down

the

to tire,

not

Now,
are

Keep your

and

much

Push the boat down

stream.

fisherman.

less

fish's

there, is landed.

than 4

lbs.

head up.

POIET.

I have

him

stream,

begins

fine well-fed fish,

Throw him

into the well.

Poietes, try that fish rising above,

two more.

He

and

there

SALMONIA.

46

HAL.

Take

He

care.

[second day.

turned you, and you

lias

have suffered him to run out your Hue, and he is gone

into the weeds under the willow
let him fall down
:

stream.

I cannot

HAL. Then wind

POIET.

get

will try to recover

line is loose

him

out.

I fear he

up.

is lost,

hhn by taking the boat

he has

left

weeds, and carried your

fly

yet

up.

we
The

the link entangled in the

with him.

He must

have

been a large fish, or he could not have disentangled

himself from so strong a gut.
Try again, there are
fish now rising above and below ; where the water is
in motion, opposite that willow, there are two fish
rising.

have one

HAL. Now you

POIET.

of them.

are doing well.

Down

with the

and drag your fish downwards. Continue to do

as
You can
there are weeds all round you.
so,
master liim now ; keep him high, and he is your own.
boat,

Put the net under hhn, and bring him into the boat
he is a well-fed fish, but not of the proper size for a
;

victim,

about 2

with the

He

is

well

Now

Physicus, try your fortune

still.

use hhn as Poietes did the

I see he

landed; a

season.

Now,

fish above, that rises so merrily

have him!

Yery

lbs.

is

a large

fish nearly of

fish,

lbs.,

You
last.

take your time.

and in excellent

FLIES.

SECOND DAY .J

Anche Io son
fisherman triumph.
HAL. Now we have
PHYS.

i.1

Pescatore

am

too

finished our fishing,

return to the light supper of our host.

easy now, and between

this

and must

would be

It

hour and ten, to take

half-a-dozen large fish in this part of the water

reason I have already stated,

for the

it

but

would be

improper.

POIET.

Pray would

not tins be a good part of

the water for day-fishing ?

HAL.
fish

Undoubtedly,

a skilful angler might take

here in the day ; but the bank

is

shaded by trees,

seldom any sensible wind on the water, and

the apparatus and the boat in motion are easily
there

is

perceived in the daylight

that a great quantity of fly

and the water

is

is

so deep,

necessary to call

up the

and in general there is a larger quantity of fly

in hot summer evenings, than even in the brightest
fish

sunshine.

PHYS.

now on
HAL.

The

What
It

HAL.

appears to

me

like a

moth

that

is

is.

POIET.
here ?

fly

the water.

Plies

come on

late

in the season

of the same species;

some darker,

flies

and some with a deeper shade of red ; and there are

likewise the true moths, the brown and white, winch,

SALMONIA.

4.8

in

June and July, are

and, being large

ORN.

flies,

[second day.

seized with avidity

take large

Surely the May-fly season

season for day-fishing in this river

HAL.

Certainly

not.

by the

fish,

fish.
is

not the only

There are as many fish to

but in this

be taken perhaps in the Spring fishing

deep river they are seldom in good season till the

May-fly has been on, and a fortnight hence they will

be

still

better than even now.

may be good

fish

taken here ;

In September there
but the autumnal flies

are less plentiful in tins river than the Spring

PHYS.

Pray

me what

tell

which take in these two seasons

HAL. You know

that trout

flies.

are the species of fly

?

or deposit their

spawn

ova in the end of the autumn or beginning of whiter,

from the middle of November till the beginning of
January, then maturity depending upon the temperature of the season, their quantity of food, &c.

some time

(a

month

Tor

or six weeks) before they are

prepared for the sexual function, or that of re-production, they become less fat, particularly the females;
the large quantity of eggs and their size probably

and compressing

affecting the health of the animal,

generally the vital organs in the abdomen.

at

least

six

weeks or two months

after

spawned before they recover their flesh

when

these fish are at the worst

is

They

are

they have

and the time

likewise the worst

FLIES.

SECOND DAY.]

time

for

fly-fishing,

49

both on account of the cold

weather and because there are fewer

flies

on the water

than at any other season. Even in December and

January there are a few small gnats or water-flies on
the water in the middle of the day, in bright days,
or

when there

is

sunshine.

These are generally black,

and they escape the influence of the frost by the

effects of light on their black bodies, and probably by
the extreme rapidity of the motions of their fluids,

and generally of

their organs.

They

are

found only

where the temperature

must be above the freezing point. In February a
few double-winged water-flies which swim down the
at the surface of the water,

stream are usually found in the middle of the day,

such as the willow -fly ; and the cow-dung-fly

is

sometimes carried on the water by winds. In March

flies found on most rivers.
The

there are several

grannam

or green-tail-fly, with a

like a

moth,
comes on generally morning and evening, from five
till
eight o'clock a. m. in mild weather in the end of

March and through

April.

Then

wing

there are the blue

and the brown, both Ephemerae, which come on, the

in dark days, the second in bright days

when

these

well imitated, are very destructive to fish.

first

flies,

The

fly with a palish-yellow body, and

slender beautiful wings, which rest on the back as it

first

floats

is

a small

down

the water.

The second,

called the cob in

E

SALMON I A.

50

brown

three or four times as large, and has

is

"Wales,

[second day

wings, which likewise protrude from the back, and

These three kinds of

yellow brown.

its

brown and

wings are shaded like those of a partridge,

flies

lay their

eggs in the water, which produce larva? that remain

in the state of worms, feeding and breathing in the

water

they are prepared for their metamorphosis

till

and quit the bottoms of the rivers, and the mud and
The
stones, for the surface, and the light and air.

brown

fly

usually disappears before the end of April,

likewise the

grannam

but of the blue dun there

is

a succession of different tints, or species, or varieties,

which appear in the middle of the day all the summer

and autumn long. These are the principal flies on

Wandle

the

London.
bodies;

In

the

best

and

clearest

early spring these flies

stream

near

have dark olive

in the end of April and the beginning of

May, they are found yellow ; and in the summer, they

become cinnamon-coloured ; and again, as the winter
approaches, gain a darker hue.

mean

to say that they are the

I do not, however,

same

flies

but more

probably successive generations of Ephemerae of the

same

species.

The

excess

of

heat

seems

equally

unfavourable, as the excess of cold, to the existence

of the smaller species of water-insects, which, during

the intensity of sunshine, seldom appear in summer,

but

rise

morning and evening

only.

The blue dun

FLIES.

SECOND DAY.]

51

has in June and July a yellow body

and there

is

in the evening is generally found

water-fly which
before the moths appear, called the red-spinner.

Towards the end of August, the Ephemerae appear

a very pale small

the day,
again in the middle of
winch is of the same colour as that which

Ephemera,
is seen in some

In
beginning of July.
September and October this kind of fly is found with
an olive body, and it becomes darker in October,
rivers in the

There are two other flies

and paler in November.
which appear in the end of September, and continue
October

during

if

be mild,

the weather

large

and wings like a moth ;

yellow fly with a fleshy body
and a small fly with four wings, with a dark or claretcoloured bodv, that
wings, like

when

the great

on the water has

it falls

yellow

flat

fly,

on

its

back.

its

This, or a claret-bodied fly very similar in character,

may be

likewise found in

March

or April,

on some

have often caught many

the
and
in
trout
beginning of May with
April
large
the blue dun, having the yellow body; and in the
upper part of the stream below St. Alban's, and

waters.

In

this

river I

between that and Watford, I have sometimes, even

as early as April, caught fish in

the true season for the Colne

May-fly.

English

The same may be

good condition
is

but

the season of the

said of

most of the large

and abounding

rivers containing large trouts,

E 2

SALMONIA.

52

in

Ma3 -fly

such

[second day.

and the Kennet, the

as the Test

one running by Stockbridge, the other by Hungerford.

But in the Wandle at Carshalton and Beddington,
the May-fly is not found ; and the little blues are the
constant,

and when well imitated,

killing flies

on

this

winch may be joined a dark alder-fly, and

;
a red evening fly.
In the Avon, at Ringwood and

water

to

Fordingbridge, the May-fly

but as this

is

particularly the

likewise a killing fly

is

grayling

river,

the

other

flies,

grannam and blue and brown, are

and the alder-fly or pale blue later,

good in spring,
and the blue dun
even November.

in September and October, and

In the streams in the mountainous

parts of Britain, the spring

far the

most

killing.

and autumnal

flies

The Usk was formerly

are

by

a very

productive trout stream, and the fish being well fed

by the worms washed down by the winter floods

were often in good season, cutting red in March,

and the beginning

blues and browns,

of April;

and

particularly

at this season the

when

the water was a

little

stained after a small flood, afforded the angler

good

sport.

In Herefordshire and Derbyshire, where

trout and grayling are often found together, the same

but in the
periods are generally best for angling;
Dove, Lathkill, and Wye, with the natural May-fly,

many

fish

may be taken;

and in old times, in

or high
peculiarly windy days,

and troubled water,

FISHING IN IRELAND.

second day.]

even the

artificial

53

May-fly, according to Cotton, was

very killing.

POIET.

excellent fishing in

Can you
same

HAL.

may

some

be used in that island

the

and

if

the

have been several times in Ireland, but

never at this season, which

lake-fishing.

in

of

of the great lakes in Ireland.

us anything on the subject

tell

flies

accounts

have heard various

is

considered as best for

I have heard that in some of the lakes

Westmeath, very large

trout,

and great

quantities,

may

be taken in the beginning of June, with the

very

flies

we have been using

this

day.

Wind

is

necessary; and a good angler sometimes takes in a

day, or rather formerly took, from ten to twelve fish,

which weighed from 3

were even larger.

to

10

lbs.,

and winch occasionally

after June, and in

In the summer

the autumn, the only seasons

when

I have fished in

Ireland, I have seldom taken any large trout

but in

the river Boyle, late in October, after a flood, I once

had some sport with these fish, that were running up

I caught one
the river from Lock Key to spawn.
day two above 3 lbs. that took a large reddish-brown
the same kind as a salmon-fly ; and I saw some
fly of
taken that weighed 5 lbs., and heard of one that
equalled 9 lbs. These fish were in good season, even
at

this

late

period,

and had no

coloured red and brown

mottled

spots,

but were

like tortoise-shell,

SALMONIA.

54

onlv with smaller bars.

[second day,

I have in July, likewise,

fished in Loch Con, near Ballina, and Loch Melvin,

near Ballyshannon.

In Loch Con, the party caught

and in the

small good trout, that cut red;

many

other I caught a very few trout only, but as

them

were gillaroo or gizzard trout as

POIET.

Tins must have been

In what does the

of fishing.

trout

HAL.

many of
common trout.

In appearance

an interesting kind
gillaroo differ from the

very

little,

except that they

have more red spots, and a yellow or golden-coloured

a broader and thicker
belly and fins, and are generally
but internally they have a different organisation,
muscular stomach, which has
possessing a large thick

fish

been improperly compared to a

fowl's,

and which gene-

of small shell-fish of three or

rally contains a quantity
four kinds ; and though in those I caught the stomachs

were
the

full

fly.

POIET.

of these shell-fish, yet they rose greedily at

Are they not

common

trout which have

gained the habit of feeding on shell-fish

HAL.

If so, they have been altered in a succession

of generations.

The common

trouts of this lake have

stomachs like other trouts, which never, as

far as

my

the
experience has gone, contain shell-fish; but of
not
some
with
I
have
a
caught
fly
gillaroo trout,
a
longer than my finger, which have had as perfect

GILLAROO. TROUT.

second day.]

55

hard stomach as the larger ones, with the coats as

thick in proportion, and the same shells within
that this animal
is

is at least

nmv a

distinct species,

so

and

a sort of link between the tront and charr, which has

a stomach of the same kind with the gillaroo, but not

quite so thick, and which feeds at the bottom in the

same way.

I have often looked in the lakes abroad

and never found one.

for gillaroo trout,

4000

feet

some

trout,

above the level of the

and was

filled

were charr, winch- fed on

Are
HAL. Tins
POIET.

suppose, that in

all

it

had no particular

shell-fish, in the

found on

a question

from

with grasshoppers

water-flies

is

to answer; yet

I once caught

were gillaroo, but on opening the

stomach I found I was mistaken

thickness,

sea,

from their thickness and red

winch,

spots, I suspected

In a small

Brenner, above

lake at the foot of the Crest of the

but there
lake.

all rivers ?

which I find

my own

same

it

experience

impossible

should

the habitable parts of the globe

certain water-flies exist wherever

there is running
most ardent temperature, gnats
and musquitoes are found, which lay their congeries
of eggs on the water, which, when hatched, become

water.

first

Even

in the

worms, afterwards small slirimp-like aurelise, and

There are a great number of the largest

lastly flies.

species of these

winch

flies

on stagnant waters and

form a part of the food of various

lakes,
fishes,

SALM0N1A.

56

principally of the carp kind

flies,

[second day.

but the true fisherman's

those winch are imitated in our

art, principally

belong to the northern, or at least temperate part of

Europe, and I believe are nowhere more abundant

than in England.
It appears to me, that since I have

been a fisherman, which

is

now

been accustomed to
the numbers of

the best part of half a

some

century, I have observed in

rivers

where I have

habitually, a diminution of

fish

There were always some seasons

in which the temperature was favourable to a quantity
of fly

flies.

for instance, fine

brown

or

grannam,
and June

for the

warm

fly;

days in spring for the

and

alder-fly,

like

days

May-fly, and

in

May

stone-fly

but I should say that, within these last twenty years,

I have observed a general diminution of the spring

and autumnal
are

fed

winch
the
these

except

flies,

in

those

rivers

which

from sources that run from chalk, and

such as the TVandle, and
perennial

are

and

Hampshire
streams

the

Buckinghamshire

temperature

is

rivers;

more

in

uniform,

and the quantity of water does not vary much.

attribute the change of the quantity of

flies

in the

rivers to the cultivation of the country.

Most

of the

winch fed many considerable streams,

and the consequence is, that they are

bogs or marshes
are drained;

more

likely to

great floods

be affected by severe droughts and

first
killing, and the second washing

the

FLIES.

6EC0KD DAY.]

away the

larvse

and

aurelias.

57

May-flies thirty years

ago were abundant in the upper part of the Teme

river in Herefordshire, where it receives the Clun:
they are

now

rarely seen.

part of England, as well

Most

of the rivers of that

as of the

exception of those that rise in the

parts

of

Dartmoor

and

unfordable torrents after

little

more

than

scanty

west,

still

with the

uncultivated

Exmoor, are rapid and

rain, and in dry summers
and Exmoor

rills;

and

Dartmoor, almost the only considerable remains of

those moist, spongy, or peaty soils, which once covered
the greatest part of the high lands of England, are

becoming cultivated, and their sources will gradually

gain the same character as those of our midland and
highly improved counties.

I cannot give you an idea

of the effects of peat mosses and grassy marshes

the water thrown

down from

on

the atmosphere, better

than by comparing their effects to those of roofs of

houses of thatched straw, as contrasted with roofs of
slate,

on a shower of

immediately,

a rapid torrent, and

Erom

the

the contrary,

it is

over.

rain.

The

slate

and sends down what

is

begins to drop
it

receives in

dry soon after the shower

sponge-like

roof

of

thatch,

is

on

long before the water drops ; but it

continues dropping and wet for hours after the shower
is

over and the slate dry.*

[*

The above remark with

its

illustration is applicable to surface-

SALMONIA.

58

POIET.

You spoke

[SECOXD DAT.

r
just uov. of the gillaroo trout

as belonging only to Ireland.

Loch

Gillaroo

I can, however, hardly

Melvin.

bring myself to believe, that such a fish is not to be

found elsewhere. Tor lakes with shell-fish and charr
are

common

in various parts of Europe, and as the

is congenerous, it ought to exist both

and the Alpine countries.
It is not possible from analogies of this

gillaroo trout

in Scotland

HAL.

kind to
cavities

draw

certain

Subterraneous

inferences.

and subterranean waters

are

common

various countries, yet the Proteus Anguinus

found in two places in Carniola

at

is

in

only

Adelsburg and

draining, but not to deep thorough draining, the tendency of which

is

the reverse, similar to that of peat mosses, and perhaps even in a

higher degree.

The

constant stream of water that flows from land

thus drained, even in a period of drought,

adverted

to.

J. D.]

is

proof of the influence

PARR, OR SAMLET.

SECOXD DAT.]

As I mentioned

Sittich.

before, I

59

have never yet met

It is true,

with a gillaroo trout, except in Ireland.

it

had my attention directed to

only lately that I have
the subject, and other fishermen or naturalists may be

is

more

fortunate.

POIET.

Have you

of the trout kind,

ever observed any other varieties

which may be considered

the gillaroo, forming a distinct species

HAL.

I think the

common

to

with the

sea,

parr,

most of our

or

samlet,

rivers

as, like

which

brandling,

communicate

has a claim to be considered a distinct

^zmgs^
Parr, or Samlet.

species

yet the history of this fish

so little understood,

will consider

me

so obscure,

and

that, perhaps, I ought not to

venture to give an account of

you

is

it.

But

in doing so,

as rather asking for

new

infor-

SALMONIA.

60

than as attempting a satisfactory view of this

raation,
little

[second day.

animal.

ORN.

Wales

I have seen this fish in the rivers of

and Herefordshire, and have heard

what appeared

HAL. This

me good

to

it

on

asserted,

authority, that

was

it

the offspring of a trout and a salmon.

a mule,

opinion, I know, has been supported

by the fact, that it

winch are occasionally

know no

found

is

visited

only

direct evidence in favour of the

and I should think

be a mixed
trout and

it

that

race,

common

much more
it

is

trout.

streams

in

by salmon;

yet

opinion,
if it

probable,

produced by the sea

In a small river, winch

runs into the Moy, near Ballina in Ireland, I once

caught in October a great number of small sea trout,

which were generally about half-a-pound in weight,

and were all males ; and unless it be supposed, that
the females were in the river likewise, and would not

take the

was

fly,

these

fish,

in

which the spermatic system

fully developed, could only have impregnated the

ova of the

common

river trout.

The

sea trout

and

river trout are, indeed, so like each other in character,

that such a mixture seems exceedingly probable

know no

but

why such mules should always

continue small, except that it may be a mark of

imperfection.

reason

The only

and common small trout

difference
is

between the parr

and its

in the colours,

PARR, OR SAMLET.

second day.]

possessing one or two spines

The parr has

made by the impression of

hand ; and hence the fish is called in

some places fingerling.

river

of

The

river

and sea trout seem

changing permanently their places of

and sea trout appear often to become

In

trout.

colour,

fin.

they had been

sides, as if

capable

in the pectoral

large blue or olive bluish marks on the

the fingers of a

residence

more

61

this

case

and gain more spots

they

their

lose

and in

silvery

their offspring

Fish, likewise,
changes are more distinct.
which are ill-fed remain small; and parrs are exceedingly numerous in those rivers where they are found,

these

which are never separated from the sea by impassable

falls; from winch I think it possible that they are
produced by a cross between sea and river trout.*
[* Since the researches of Mr. Shaw, published in 1837, naturalists,
with few exceptions, have come to the conclusion that the parr is the

young of the salmon,

earlier stage,

the one in
those which have

as is also the smelt, or smolt,

having characteristic transverse marks

its

given rise to the designation of fingerling, perhaps of brandling,

other, after those

marks have disappeared, and the

fish

uniformity of silvery colouring of the salmon, preparatory to

its

native stream for the sea.

In relation

to the

the

has acquired the

its

quitting

fresh-water parr

compared with the salt-water salmon, there are some circumstances

which are remarkable, and which might well lead to the conclusion
that the parr

is

distinct

from the salmon.

water, grows slowly, the

young salmon,

The

parr, whilst in fresh

as soon as

it

enters the sea,

very rapidly, as has been proved by the observations of Mr. Young,

but though growing slowly in fresh water, the parr feeds well and is in

good condition,

worms,

larvae,

using

the varied food

of the

common

fresh-water shell-fish, and squillae

as

trout
if

flies,

distinct

SALMONIA.

o2

The

common

varieties of the

[second day.

trout are almost infinite;

from the great lake trout, winch

weighs above 60 or
70 lbs., to the trouts of the little mountain brook or
small mountain lake, or tarn, which

than the

The

is

scarcely larger

smallest trout

spawn nearly at
the same time with the larger ones, and their ova are
of the same size ; but in the
large trout there are
finger.

tens of thousands, and in the small ones

rarely as

many

as forty,

often from ten to forty.

So that in

the physical constitution of these animals, their

pro-

duction

is

quantity
large

diminished

and

it

as

their

food

and beautiful species which

And

species.

small

is

in

remarkable that the ova of the

is

in accordance,

both

its

exist

in certain

roe and soft milt are found

more

or less developed, so that the sexes can be

easily distinguished.

most instances the milt

are

examples of the

in his " Hist,

more

is

latter

fully

formed than the roe

having been found of

full size.

In

but there

Mr. Yarrell,

of British Fishes," quotes

trust-worthy observer,

Dr. Heysham

one on the authority of

of Carlisle
and he has in
;

his possession, preserved in spirits, a like

from a

parr,

specimen taken undoubtedly

which he had the kindness to show me. These circum-

stances and others lead to the inference that the

young salmon, as
a parr, is capable of breeding, and does occasionally breed in some of
our rivers, so that the species can be continued ; and that a descent
to the sea

and high feeding there are not absolutely essential to the

Of those parrs which I have examined,

preservation of the species.

taken from streams in the lake

males

the

proportion

distinguishable,

in

districts, as

which the

was very small.

many have been

females as

marks of the sex were not

For much valuable information on

this interesting subject, see the article

"

Salmonidse,"

in vol.

ii.,

1st

Mr. YarrelPs excellent work on " British Fishes,"

and Mr. Scrope's " Days and Nights of Salmon Fishing." J. D.]
and 2nd

editions, of

VARIETIES OF TROUT.

SECOND DAY.]

and which seem always

lakes,

appear to

and

63

to associate together,

produce offspring, which, in colour, form,

power of growth and reproduction, resemble

*'*'- J.

V \ ^ JH^PV -=JA

-^B-i^V. /:t--f.-*-^ja^/

Great Lake Trout.

the parent fishes

river

their

for

and they generally choose the same

Thus,

spawning.

in

the

lake of

Guarda, the Benacus of the ancients, the magnificent

trout, or
is

like

Salmo fariOj which in colour and appearance

a fresh run salmon, spawns in the river at

Biva, beginning to run

up

for that

purpose in June,

and continuing to do so all the summer ; and this

by streams from snow and glaciers in the

river is fed

Tyrol, and

common

is

generally foul

trouts,

whilst the small spotted

which are likewise found in

this lake,

go into the small brooks, which have their sources

off, and in which, it is probable, they were

not far

originally bred.

I have seen taken in the same net

SALM0N1A.

64

small fish of both these

marked
a

like

which were

varieties,

as possible in their characters,

one

as

silvery,

young salmon, blue on the back, and with

small black spots only,

and red

made

[second day.

spots,

the

other, with yellow belly

and an olive-coloured back.

I have

similar observations in other lakes,

particularly

in that of the

Loch Neah

Traun near Gmiinden, and likewise

in Ireland.

Indeed, considering the sea

trout as the type of the species trout, I think

other true trouts

varieties, in

may

which the

at

the

all

not improperly be considered as

differences of food

and of habits

have occasioned, in a long course of ages, differences

of shape and colours, transmitted to offspring in the

same manner
all

as in the variety of dogs,

which may

be referred to one primitive type.*

I

have

known

the

number

of spines in the pectoral fins different,

in different varieties of trout; I have seen

the anal

fin

them

12, 13, and 14

always, I believe, contains 11 spines, the dorsal

13, the ventral 9, and the caudal 21.

The

but

12 or

smallest brook trout,

when

well and copiously fed, will increase in stews to four or five

pounds in weight, but never attains the size or characters of lake
trout.

Mr. Tonkin of Polgaron put some small

river trout, 2| inches in

newly-made pond. He took some of these out the
second year, and they were above 12 inches in length ; the third year,
he took one out that was 16 inches; and the fourth year, one of 25

length, into a

inches:

this

was

in

1734.

Lord de Dunstanville's

(Carew's Survey of Cornwall,

p.

87.

edition.)

who are the

[It is now generally admitted by those naturalists
highest authorities relative to the species of fish, that there are, ex-

VARIETIES OF TROUT.

second DAT.j

PHYS I am somewhat amused

the

of

change produced
formation

the

by

particular

accidents,

mission.

It

of

their

me

of

at

species

particular

and

reminds

the

in

65

your idea
of

characters

by

trans-

hereditary

the

trout

but

ingenious

somewhat unsound views of Darwin on the same

subject.

HAL. I

not allow you to assimilate

will

to those of an author, who,

my

however ingenious,

views
is

far

whose poetry has always appeared to

;
weak philosophy, and his philosophy indifferent

too speculative

me

poetry

and to

whom

I have been often accustomed

to apply Blumenbach's saying, that there were

many
new and many tilings true in Ins doctrines ;
but that what was new was not true, and what was
things

true was not new.

POIET.l think Halieus

be a

little

making him
can

is

quite in the right to

angry at your observation, Physicus, in

a disciple of a writer, who, as well as I

recollect,

has deduced the genesis of the

human

being, by a succession of changes dependent upon

elusive of the salmon (Salmosalar), three distinct species of the trout

two migratory, the salmon trout, or salmon peal (Salmo trutta), and
the sea trout, or hull trout (Salmo eriox) ; and one not migratory, the
:

common

trout

(Salmo

fat'io);

each

possessing

certain distinctive

structural marks, especially in the relative proportions of their maxillae.

Ample

information

of British

is

"
History
given on this subject in Mr. YarrelFs

Fishes." J. D.]
F

SALMONIA.

6Q

irritabilities,

sensibilities,
tlie

[second day.

and appetencies, from the

wild fancies of Bnffon with the

blending
profonnd ideas of Hartley, and thus endeavouring to
with
give currency to an absurd romance, by mixing

fish ;

some philosophical truths. I hope your parallel

will induce him to do us the favour to state Ins own
it

notions more at large.

HAL.Physicus has mistaken me; and I will explain.

What I mentioned of the varieties of dogs as sprung
from one type, he will, I am sure, allow me to apply,
with some modifications, to

all

our cultivated breeds

of animals, whether horses, oxen, sheep, hogs, geese,

ducks, turkeys, or pigeons; and he will allow, that

certain characters gained

peculiar food,

air,

transmitted to, and often strengthened

generation

the

when belonging

either

by accidents,

from

water, or domestic treatment, are

in,

qualities being, as it were,

the next

doubled

both parents, and retained in

of
It will be sufficient
spite
counteracting causes.
for

me

to

to

mention only a few cases. The bloodis become the favourite of the north

horse of Arabia

Europe, and the colts possess all the superior

qualities of their parents, even in the polar circle.

of

The

Merino sheep retain the fineness

Poultry,
England and Saxony.

offspring of the

of their wool in

bantams, tumbling and carrier pigeons, geese, ducks,

turkevs,

&c,

all

afford instances of the

same kind;

VARIETIES OF TROUT.

second day.]

67

and in the goose and duck, not only is the colour of

the feathers changed, but the form of the muscles of
the legs and wings,

those of the wings, being

little

those of the
employed, become weak and slender,
much used, are strong
legs, on the contrary, being

and

fleshy.

And

know

well to

it is

this,

in the

as,

young birds, the muscles of the legs and thighs are

the best parts for the epicure,

large quantity of

being developed there, but not yet hardened or

These facts are of the
rendered tough by exercise.
same kind and depend on the same principles, as the
flesh

Fish in

in trouts.
peculiarity of the breeds or races

a clear cool river, that feed

much on

larvae,

and that

swallow their hard cases, become yellower, and the

red spots increase so as to outnumber the black ones
;

and these

and

qualities

become

fixed in the

establish a particular variety.

lake,

or

young

fishes,

from

If trout

another river of a different variety, were

introduced into this river, they would not at once

change their characters

place gradually.

but the change would take

Thus I have known trout from

lake in Scotland, remarkable for their deep red flesh,

introduced into another lake, where the trout had

only white

flesh,

and

they

redness of their flesh for

all

retained

many

years.

the

At

peculiar
first

which fed the

lake,

they

spawning in the brook

but those newly introduced were

associated together in

F 2

SALM0N1A.

68

easilv

known from

sides.

[second day.

darker backs and brighter

their

the influence of
degrees, however, from

By

food and other causes, they became changed; the

young trout

of the introduced variety

had

flesh less

red than their parents; and in about twenty years

was entirely lost, and all the fish were
the
variety

in their original white

state.

very speculative

reasoner might certainly defend the hypothesis, of the

course of ages, from the
in a
of

change

species

long

establishment of particular characters as hereditary.

be said, that trout, after having thickened
It

might

hard

with
by feeding on larvae
were
of
the
eating shell-fish, and
cases, gained
power

stomachs

their

and to charr, their

Gradually changed to gillaroos
red spots and the yellow colour of their belly and fins
it might be said,
almost
feed
which
that the large trout
entirely on
small fishes, gained more spines in the pectoral fins

increasing.

In the same manner

and became a new

know no

and I

species

but

facts of this kind.

shall not

The

go so

gillaroo

far,

and

the charr appear always with the same characters;

and I have never seen any fish that seemed in a
state of transition

charr

from a trout to a

a
gillaroo or

which, I think, must have been the

case

if

I hope, after this explanasuch changes took place.

find
not
will
any analogy between my
tion, Physicus
a
of
ideas and those
school, to which I am not

VARIETIES OF TROUT.

second day.]

ambitious of being thought to belong

will allow

my

69

and that he

views to be sound, or at least founded

correct analogies.

upon
POIET. Do you know any
in

confirmation

of your

facts of a similar

idea

that

the

parr

kind
is

mule?

HAL. I have heard

of

similar instances,

but I

The
say I have myself witnessed them.
common carp and the cruscian are said to produce a

cannot

mixed

race,

and likewise the rud and the roach ; but

much attention to varieties of the carp

I have never paid

kind.

mine informed me, that in a branch

which graylings had recently been

friend of

of the Test, into

introduced, his fisherman caught a fish winch appeared

from a cross between the trout and grayling,

having the high back fin of the grayling, and the head
to be

and spots of the trout:

if correct,

this is the

as the grayling

and the trout in the

recollect that I

late

more remarkable,

spawns in the

autumn

late spring,

or winter

yet I do

once took a grayling in the end of

November, in which the ova were so large, as nearly

The fisherman of the
to be ready for protrusion.
Griindtl See, in Styria, informed me, that he

a fish which he

believed to

had seen

be a mule between the

trout and charr, the fins of winch resembled those of a

trout,

though the body was in other respects like that

The seasons at which these two species

of a charr.

8ALM0NIA.

70

[second day

spawn approach nearer to each other ; but the charr

spawns in still and the trout in running water. In
general the trout are mature before the charr, yet I

have seen in the Leopoldstein See, in Styria, a female

charr, of which the eggs were almost fully developed
as early as

June

said, that these

the fisherman of the Grundtl See

peculiar fish were very rare, and that

he caught only one in about 500 charr. It

think, impossible, that it may be an umbla, a

is

not, I

fish that

might be expected to be found in that deep, cold,

Alpine lake, a peculiar species and not a mixed variety.
It

is

fertile

and very curious subject

for

new

experiments, that of crossing the breeds of fishes, and

a

offers

very interesting

investigation, which I hope

and untouched
will

some enlightened country gentleman, who in

way might make not only curious but

coveries.

POIET.

So

much

of

field

soon be taken up by
this

useful dis-

would be required

science

to

make

these experiments with success, and there would

be so

many

at

difficulties in

the

way

of preserving fishes

time they are proper for reproduction, that

the

I fear very few country gentlemen would be capable

of prosecuting the inquiry.

HAL.

The

attained,

science required for tins object

and the

difficulties

The impregnation of the ova

are

of fishes

quite
is

is easily

imaginary.

performed out

BREEDING OF

second dat. J

FISH.

71

of the body, and

it is
only necessary to pour the
from
the
milt upon the ova in water.
spermatic liquor
Mr. Jacobi, a German gentleman, who made many

years ago experiments on the increase of trout and

salmon, informs us, that the ova and milt of mature

fish,

recently dead, will produce living offspring.

plan of raising trout

He had

one.

a box

His

from the egg was a very simple

made with

a small wire grating

one end in the cover, for admitting water from

a fresh source or stream, and at the other end of the
at

side

of the

box there were a number

permit the exit of the water

was

filled

of holes to

the bottom of the box

with pebbles and gravel of different

sizes,

winch were kept covered with water that was always

in motion.
In November or the beginning of December,

when

the trout were in full maturity for spawning,

and collected in the

purpose upon beds

and females in a net, and

rivers for this

of gravel, he caught males

by the pressure of Ins hands, received the ova in a

basin of water, and suffered the milt to pass into the
basin;

and

after they

together, he introduced

had remained a few minutes

them upon the gravel

in the

box, which was placed under a source of fresh, cool,

and pure water. In a few weeks the eggs burst,

and the box was filled with an immense number of

young

trout,

winch had a small bag attached to the

lower part of their body containing a part of the yolk

SALMONIA.

72

was

of the egg, which

were

[second day

their nourishment.

still

In

from place to place

in confined portions of fresh water for some
days,
requiring, apparently, no food; but, after about
this state they

easily carried

a week, the nourishment in their bag being exhausted,

they began to

seek

food in

the water,

and

As I have

said before,

Mr.

their

rapidly increased in size.

Jacobi assures us, that the experiment succeeded as

well with mature

fish,

that had been killed for the

and milt, these having

been mixed together in cold water immediately after
I have had
they have been taken out of the body.
purpose of procuring the roe

this

experiment tried twice, and with perfect success,

and

it

offers a

very good

mode

of increasing to any

extent the quantity of trout in rivers or lakes

for the

young ones are preserved from the attacks of fishes,

and other voracious animals or

when they
helpless.

most

insects,

at the

time

and perfectly
The same plan, I have no doubt, would
are

easily destroyed,

answer equally well with grayling or other varieties of

the salrno genus.

But

kind, the great principle

of fresh

in
is,

all

experiments

and aerated water running over the eggs.

The uniform supply

essential for its life

of air to the

embryo in the egg is

and growth, and such eggs as are

not supplied with water saturated with

ductive.

of this

to have a constant current

air are

The experimenter must be guided

unproexactly

BREEDING OF

sbcond day.]

by the

FISH.

who

take care to

that are

to produce

instinct of the parent fishes,

deposit the impregnated

eggs

73

their offspring, only in sources continually

in fresh

PETS.
and

how

But

as every species of fish has a particular

usually different time for

it

abounding

and aerated water.*

spawning, I do not see

could be contrived to cross their breeds, or

how

the ova of a trout, which spawns in December, could

be impregnated by the spermatic fluid of the grayling,

which spawns in May; for I conclude it would be
impossible to preserve the eggs of a fish out of the

body in a

state in

which they could retain or recover

their vitality.

HAL.

believe I

mentioned before, that I had

found instances, in winch the ova of

loped

at a different period

I have no doubt, that a

habits of fishes

maturity.

little

would enable us

of the circumstances,

fish

inquiry respecting the

to acquire a

knowledge
which either hasten or retard their

Plenty of food and a genial season hasten

the period of their reproduction, which

[*

For success in such

as possible,

and

stone partitions.

were deve-

from their natural one ; and

to

trials it

may

is

delayed by

be well to imitate nature as closely

have the breeding box made of stone with perforated

I have heard of a failure on a large scale, made
appa-

rently under favourable circumstances and conducted with care, in wbich

the boxes used were of wood and the partitions of
perforated zinc.
Leeches, it is well known, can be long preserved in stone tanks, and

even breed in them, but not in tanks of wood.

J. D.]

SALMOXIA.

74

[second day

want of proper nourishment, and by unfavourable

Males and females likewise, confined

weather.

from

each

other,

impeded; and

have

their

trout, grayling,

deposit their ova except in running water

keeping them

powers
not

generative

and salmon,
;

will

so that

by

in tanks, the period of their maturity

might be considerably alterecL I have seen charr even,

which had been kept in confined water from September
till

July; and so slow had been the progress of the

ova, that they appeared to be about this time

for

fit

exclusion, though, in the natural course of tilings,

they would have been ripe in the end of October of

the year before.

By

attending to and controlling

these circumstances, I have

all

no doubt many interesting

experiments might be made, as to the possibility of

modifying the varieties of the salino, by impregnating
the ova of one species with the spermatic fluid of

With

another.

be

still

their
is

more

ova in

fishes of other

easy.

still

genera the task would

Carp, perch, and pike, deposit

water in spring and summer,

when

supplied with air by the growth of vegetables

it is to

it

and

the leaves of plants, which afford a continual

supply of

oxygen to the water, that the impregnated

eggs usually adhere ; so that researches of this kind
might be conducted within doors in close vessels, filled
with plants, exposed to the sun.

minnows and

I have myself kept

sticklebacks alive for

many months

in

BREEDING OF

second day.]

FISH.

75

the same confined quantity of "water, containing a few

confervas

and

same manner,

their ova
as if they

and milt increased in the

had been in

their

natural

situation.

ORN.

conclude from your statements, Halieus,

that nothing

more

required for the production of

is

from impregnated eggs, than a constant supply

of water of a certain temperature furnished with air ;
fishes

and of course the same principles

will apply to fishes

of the sea.

HAL.

There can

spawning time

be no doubt of

always

it

and

fishes in

approach great shallows, or

shores covered with weeds, that, in the process

their growth,

of

under the influence of the sunshine,

constantly supply pure air to the water in

contact

with them.

POIET.

In

every thing belonging to the economy

new reasons for wondering at the

of nature, I find

designs of Providence,

which
the

at the infinite intelligence

by

many complicated effects are produced by

most simple causes. The precipitation of water
so

from the atmosphere, its rapid motion in rivers,

and its falls in cataracts, not only preserve this
element pure, but give it its vitality, and render it
subservient even to the embryo

life

of the fish

the storms which agitate the ocean, and

and

mingle

it

with the atmosphere, supply at once food to marine

SALMONIA.

76

plants,

and

afford a principle

of

[second day

life

to

the

fishes

So that the perturbation

depths.
and motion of the winds and waves possess a use,

which inhabit

its

and ought to impress us with a beauty higher and

more delightful even than that of the peaceful and
glorious calm.

THIRD DAY.
HA LIEUSP0IETES0RN1THERPH TSICUS.

SCENE

HAL.

You

DENHAM.

Morning.

soon take tout leave, gentlemen,

of tins agreeable villa ; but we must catch at least two
brace of trout to carry with us to London, as a
will

present for two worthy patrons of the angle.

though I know our

fish

this

For

have a basket of

liberal host will

packed up for each of our party, yet fish taken

morning will be imagined a more acceptable

The May-fly
not
in great
though

present than those caught yesterday.

is

upon
and it

already

quantity,

catch

the

activity.

fish,

the

water,

will consequently

be more easy to

which I see are rising with great

I advise you to go to the deep water below,

where you

will find the largest fish,

and I

will

soon

follow you.

POIET.

hope I

shall

catch

a large

fish,

SALMONIA.

78

companion

that which Ornither

to

with a natural

[third da*

took yesterday

fly.

{Halieus leaves them fishing, and returns to the house but soon
comes back and joins his companions, whom he finds fishing
;

below in the river.]

gentlemen, what

POIET. The

HAL.

"Well,

sport

everywhere; but
though we have been throwing over them with all
our skill for a quarter of an hour, yet not a single
fish

one will take, and I

are

rising

am

afraid

we

shall return to

breakfast without our prey.

HAL.

will try

but I shall go to the other

where I see a very large

him

at the very first throw.

him

into the well.

Now

There

fish rising.

Land

you

success.

PHYS.

have

You

been

I have another

so

must have a

and put
and I have

this fish,

no doubt I could take half a dozen in

where

side,

I have

this very place,

fishing

without

different fly;

or have

long

you some unguent or charm to tempt the fish ?

HAL. No such tiling. If any of you will give me

your rod and

fly,

the same success.

lo

I have a

PHYS.

fish

"What

I will answer for

it,

I shall have

I take your rod, Physicus.

And

can be the reason of this?

to
perfectly inexplicable

me.

It

is

Yet Poietes seems to

SHADOWS.

THIRD DAT.]

throw as light

as

you

do,

and

as well

he did

as

yesterday.

HAL.

I am

surprised, that you,

who

pher, cannot discover the reason of

are a philoso-

this.

Think a

little.

We
HAL. As you
ALL.

cannot.

teach you.

The sun

are

my
is

scholars, I believe I

must

bright, and you have been,

naturally enough, fishing with your backs to the sun,

winch, not being very high, has thrown the shadows

and yourselves upon the water; and

you have alarmed the fish whenever you have thrown
of your rods

fly.

You

see I have fished with

my

face towards

and though inconvenienced by the light,

Follow my example and you
have given no alarm.
will soon have sport, as there is a breeze playing on
the sun;

the water.

PHYS.

Your

sagacity

puts

me

in

mind

of

an

anecdote which I remember to have heard respecting

the late eloquent statesman, Charles James Fox, who,

walking up Bond Street from one of the club-houses

with an illustrious personage, laid him a wager that

he would see more cats than the Prince in

his walk,

and that he might take which side of the street he

When they got to the top, it was found that
liked.

Mr. Fox had seen thirteen

one.

The

cats,

and the Prince not

royal personage asked for an explanation

SALMOXIA.

80

[THIRD DAY.

of this apparent miracle, and Mr.

Pox

" Yonr

said,

Royal Highness took, of course, the shady side of the

way, as most agreeable ; I knew that the sunny side
would be left to me, and cats always prefer the
sunshine."

HAL.

There

Poietes,

by following

my

advice

you have immediately hooked a fish; and while you

are catching a brace, I will tell you an anecdote
which

as

much

Physicus; and

relates

affords

to

fly-fishing

as

that

of

an elucidation of a particular

effect of light.

A manufacturer

of carmine,

who was aware

of the

Prench colour, went to Lyons for the

purpose of improving Ins process, and bargained with
the most celebrated manufacturer in that capital for
superiority of

the acquisition of

Iris

a thousand pounds.

secret

He

for

which he was to pay

was shown

all

the processes

and saw a beautiful colour produced, yet he found

not the least difference in the Prench mode of

and that which he had constantly adopted.

appealed to the manufacturer, and insisted that

fabrication

He

he must have concealed something. The manufacturer

assured him that he had not, and invited him to see

He

the process a second time.

minutely examined

the water and the materials, which were the same as

his
lost

own; and, very much

my

labour and

my

surprised, said,

money,

for the air of

"I

have

England

SUNSHINE.

THIRD DAY.]

81

make good carmine." " Stay/'

"
do not deceive yourself what
says the Frenchman,
"A bright sunny day/'
is
it
now
?"
kind of weather
"
And such are the days/' said
said the Englishman.
the Frenchman, "on which I make mv colour.
does not permit us to

"Were I to

attempt to

or cloudy day,

Let

me advise

my
you,

result

my

manufacture

in

on a dark

would be the same

"I

as yours.

make carmine

friend, always to

on bright and sunny days."

Englishman; "but

it

will,"

says the

make very

I fear I shall

little

London."
POIET.

Your anecdote

as that of Physicus

much

to the purpose

am much

obliged to you

is

yet I

as

for the hint respecting the effect of

several times in
clear a sky,

and wished, with Cotton,

A
A
HAL.
flies,

May

shadow, for I have

and June had to complain of too

for

day with not too bright a beam

warm, but not a scorching,

sun.

Whilst we

have been conversing, the Maywhich were in such quantities, have become much

fewer;

and I believe the reason

is,

that they have

been greatly diminished by the flocks of swallows,

which everywhere pursue them I have seen a single
swallow take four, in less than a quarter of a minute,
:

that were descending to the water.

POIET.

I delight in this living landscape

The

SALMONIA.

82

swallow

is

one of

the nightingale

he

is

my

for

favourite birds,

he cheers

my

the glad prophet of the year

the best season

he

lives a life of

the loveliest forms of nature

him

[third day.

and he leaves

and a

rival of

sense of hearing

the harbinger

of

enjoyment amongst

winter

is

unknown

the green meadows

of

to

England

and orange groves of Italy,

he has always objects
and for the palms of Africa
Even the
secure.
is
of pursuit, and Iris success

in autumn, for the myrtle

are poetical, beautiful,

beings selected for his prey
and transient; the ephemerae are saved by his means

from a slow and lingering death in the evening, and

killed in a moment, when they have known nothing
of

life

but pleasure.

insects,

the

the

ibis,

instinct,

teaches

He

friend of

is

man

may be regarded
which gives him

the constant destroyer of

;

and, with the stork and

as

sacred

bird.

his appointed seasons,

him always when and where

to move,

His
and

may be

from a Divine Source ; and he

regarded as flowing
to the Oracles of Nature, which speak the
belongs

awful and intelligible language of a present Deity.

Sea Trout

Salmo Trutta Marina.

Salmon Salmo

Salar.

FOURTH DAY.
HA LIEUS-POIETES ORNITHERPII YSICUS.

FISHING FOR SALMON AND SEA TROUT.

Scene

Loch Maree,
Time

POIET.

begin

long day's journey

West of Eosshire, Scotland.

Middle
to

be

of July.

tired.

and these

This

is

last ten miles

realty a

through

bogs, with no other view than that of mountains half

G 2

SALMONIA.

Si

[FOURTH DAT.

hid in mists, and brown waters that can hardly be

and with no other

called lakes,

stunted birches, that look so

than

trees

few

alive, that they

little

might be supposed immediately descended from the

bogwood, every where scattered beneath our feet,
have rendered

it

This

extremely tedious.

the

is

most barren part of one of the most desolate countries

I have ever passed through in Europe ; and though
the inn at Strathgarve
is

is

tolerable, that of

certainly the worst I have ever seen,

We

ought to have good

Pool Ewe, to compensate us for this

the worst I shall ever see.

amusement

Auchnasheen

and I hope

at

uncomfortable day's journey.

HAL

I trust

we

shall

have

salmon and sea trout can furnish

difficulties of

Maree

is

sport,

as

far

as

But the

sport.

our journey are almost over.

See,

Loch

stretched at our feet, and a good boat with

four oars will carry us in four or five hours to our

fishing

ground

this lake is

scenery.

POIET.

a time that will not be mispent, for

not devoid of beautiful, and even grand

The

scenery begins to improve

cloud-breasted mountain on the

character of Scotch

left

is

mountains; these

and that

of the

best

woods,

like-

wise, are respectable for this northern country.

think I see islands also in the distance;

and the

quantity of cloud always gives effect to this kind of

SCENERY.

FOrRTH DAY.]

view,

perhaps,

such

without

85

assistance

the

to

would be nothing even approaching

these
countries ; but cloud and mist,
in
to the sublime
imagination, there

by creating obscurity and offering a substitute for

greatness and distance, give something of an Alpine
and majestic character to this region.
ORN. As we are now fixed in our places in the
boat, you will surely put out a rod or two with a set

of

or try the tail of the par for a large trout or

flies,

salmon

our fishing will not hinder our progress.

HAL. In most

have

other lakes I should do so; here I

the

tried

often

This lake

success.

very few fish

is

extremely deep, and there are

which haunt

and salmon seldom

but never with

experiment,

it

generally except chart*

but in particular parts along

the shore, which we shall not touch.
Our vovace
rest

be a picturesque, rather than an angling one.

I
see we shall have little occasion for the oars, for a
will

strong breeze
lake

we

shall

is rising,

be in

we

On we

go

number

of hours I

to catch a

POIET.

it

shall

and blowing

make our voyage

scenery

down

Hoist the

had calculated upon

salmon in time

The

directly

in a minute.

the

sails

in half the

and I hope

for dinner.

improves

nearer the lower parts of the lake.

as

we advance

The mountains

become higher, and that small island or peninsula

presents a bold, craggy outline ; and the birch wood

SALMOXIA.

8(3

below

[fourth day.

and the pines above, form a scene somewhat

But what is that large bird

it,

Alpine in character.

soaring above the pointed rock, towards the end of

the lake

HAL.

Prom

female

PHYS.
size,

the gray or

eagle,

is

I think I

HAL.

You do

I dare

off.

see another bird,

perched on the rock below, which

form.

noble

must be the

it

in that high rock.

is

not far

and of a rare

silver eagle, a

the size of the animal,

and her aery

say the male

are right,

and peculiar species

bird

an eagle
it is an

it is

Surely

You

it is

of a smaller
is

similar in

the consort of that beautiful

and powerful bird ; and I have no doubt

their

young

ones are near at hand.

POIET.

Look

at the bird

How

she dashes into

the water, falling like a rock, and raising a column

of spray

now

she has dropt from a great height.

she rises again into the air

dinarv

siffht

HAL.

this

is

pursuing her prey, and

a catcher of fish.

towards the

There

She

fraternity,

quarry

And

what an extraor-

time,

and

river, to fall

has

is

one of our

She has missed her

soared

down

further

again from a great height.

You

see

She

gives an interest to this scene, winch

her

rise

with

fish

in

her

talons.

POIET.

THE EAGLE.

fourth day.]

expected to have found.

I hardly

Pray are there

of these animals in this country

many

HAL.
and

87

Of

I believe the

young ones migrate

can provide for themselves

requires a large space to

not allow

its

have seen but these two,

this species, I

for

as soon as they

this

move and

solitary bird

feed in, and does

offspring to partake its reign, or to live

Of other

the eagle, there are

near

it.

some

in different parts of the mountains, particularly

species

brown

of the Osprey, and of the great fishing or

eagle.

I once saw a very fine and interesting sight

Ben Weevis,

above one of the Crags of

near Strath-

was going, on the 20th of August, in

Two parent eagles were
pursuit of black game.
their
two young birds, the
offspring,
teaching
garve, as I

flight.
They began by rising from the
mountain in the eye of the sun ; it was about
midday, and bright for this climate.
They at first
made small circles, and the young birds imitated

manoeuvres of

top of a

them; they paused on their wings, waiting till they

had made their first flight, and then took a second
and larger gyration,
and enlarging their

extending

gradually
slowly

followed,

mounted

always rising towards the sun,

circle of flight so as to
spiral.

apparently

The young ones

flying

and they continued

exercise, always rising,

till

make a

this

better

as

still

they

sublime kind of

they became mere points

SALMONIA.

88

in the air,

[fourth day,

and the young ones were

and

lost,

after-

But we
wards their parents, to our aching sight.*
have touched the shore, and the lake has terminated ;
you

are

now on

POIET.

the river Ewe.

Are we

to fish here

stream, but I see no

fish,

It is a

broad clear

and cannot think

it

a good

angling river.
*

[This incident, so poetical, the Author

first

described in verse, with

J.D.]

fail to interest the general reader

aspirations that can hardly

THE EAGLES.
" The
mighty

birds

still upwards rose,

In slow, but constant, and most steady flight,
The young ones following ; and they would pause

As

if to

teach

them how

to bear the light,

And

keep the solar glory full in sight

So went they on, till, from excess of pain,
I

could no longer bear the scorching rays

And, when

looked again, they

Ave re

not seen,

Lost in the brightness of the solar blaze.

memory left a type, and a desire

Their

So should

wish towards the light

to rise,

Instructing younger spirits to aspire

Where I could
And joy below

never reach amidst the skies,

to see

them

lifted higher,

Seeking the light of purest glory's prize

So would I look on splendour's brightest dav,
With an undazzled eye, and steadily
;

Soar upwards

Through

full in the

immortal ray,

the blue depths of the

unbounded sky,

Pourtraying wisdom's boundless purity.

Before me still a lingering ray appears,

But broken and

prismatic, seen tlno' tears.

The

and immortality."

light of joy

THE INN.

FOURTH DAT.]

HAL.

"We

above our fishing

see our quarters and

are nearly a nrile

and we must

station,

first

provide for our lodging, before

to the inn

POIET.

89

we have only

Whv

tins

we begin our

fishing

a short walk.

inn

is

second edition

of

Auchnasheen.

HAL.

The

interior

is

better than

We

thanks to the Laird of Brahan.

tolerable
cots

and provide our food.

sugar.
to us at

exterior,

one

room and bed, and we must put up our

Mr. Purveyor

PHYS.

the

shall find

Then

What

is

our

store,

know we have good

there

Gordon

is

bread, tea,

and

the quarter of roebuck, presented

Castle; and Ornither has furnished

us with a brace of wild ducks, three leash of snipes,

and a brace

of

golden plovers, by his

expedition of yesterday

and

for fish

mountain

we depend on

Yet our host says there are fresh herrings to

be had, and small cod-fish, and salmon, and trout in
any quantity; and the claret and the Ferintosh are

you.

safe.

HAL.

"Why we

shall fare

sumptuously.

not time yet for shooting grouse,

spoil for the few days

we

we must

shall stay here.

As

it is

divide our

Yet there

young snipes and plovers on the mountains above,

and I have no doubt we might obtain the Laird's

are

permission to

kill a

roebuck in the woods, or a hart

SALMONIA.

90

on the mountains

but

[fourth day.

an uncertain

this is always

event, and I advise yon,

Ornither,

to

become

fisherman.

ORN.

I shall wait

At

skill.

want amusement

HAL.

I see the results of your

this

country I can

never

and, I dare say, there are plenty

mouth

of seals at the

more useful

till

events, in

all

of the river, and killing

them

Let

there be a kettle of water, with

salt,

ready boiling in an hour, mine host, for the fish

and

catch or buy;

dressed
fare.

the

too

commanded
HAL.

is

a fine river;

clear, full,

with the two handed rod

in

most

it

a flood,

HAL.

river

was

all

it fuller

as it

was

the better for

clear.

Better

after

brings the fish up,

likewise brings

a flood from rain;

who know when

rain

is

is

for

this

coming, and

down food and makes the

But when the water

fish

may be

The strong wind

than usual.

I thought the

when

but not

parts.

It is larger

which brought us so quickly down has made

and it is not in such good order for fishing
before the wind rose.
POIET.

we

are well

our rods.

This

large;

see that the potatoes

servants will look to the rest of our

Now for

POIET.

is

to other fishermen than catching fish.

fish feed.

raised by a strong wind, the

never run, as they are sure to find no increase

THE EWE.

FOURTH DAT.]

in

the

heads, which

spring

91

are

their

in

objects

running.

You give the

rather;

POIET.

HAL.

fish credit for great sagacity.

Call

it

instinct

for if they reasoned,

they would run with every large water, whether from

wind or

"What the feeling or power

rain.

makes them

But now

define.

POIET.

The

for

fish

which

our sport.
are beginning to rise;

seen two here already, and there

fourth

is,

travel with rain, I will not pretend to

I have

a third, and a

is

scarcely a quarter of a minute elapses without

a fish rising in

HAL.
rather

some part of the

As the day
a

large

is

pool.

dark, I shall use a bright

with jay's hackle,

fly,

and

kingfisher's

feather under the wing,

and golden pheasant's tail,

and wing of mixed grouse, and argus pheasant's tail.
I shall throw over these fish ; I ought to raise one.
POIET.

know

Either

you

their danger.

HAL.

are

They

not

or the fish

skilful,

will not rise.

will try another

and

You do nothing.
HAL. I have changed my

a smaller

fly.

POIET.

fish rises.

fly

a third time, yet no

I cannot understand this.

The water

is

not in good order, or I should certainly have raised a

fish or

two.

Now

I will

wager ten

pool has been fished before to-day.

ORK By whom ?

to one, that this

SALMONIA.

92

HAL.

know not; but

[FOURTH DAT,

take

wager and we

my

will ascertain.

ORN.

shall

See,

possible.

without

ascertain

man

the

if

wager

connected with the fishery

There you see; it has

advances, let us ask him.

who

been fished once or twice by one,

claims without

charter the right of angling.

told you so.

Now I know this, I shall
on
kind
of
such as I am sure they
another
put
fly,

HAL.

have not seen this day.

POIET.
It is very small and very gaudy, I believe

made with humming

HAL. No, the

bird's feathers.

Java

brightest

dove's

hackle,

and golden pheasant's feathers, and

the red feathers of the paroquet.
There was a fish
kingfisher's blue,

that rose and missed the

has taken

it,

a fresh run

fly

fish,

a sea trout.

from

There, he

his white belly

and

blue back.

POIET.

How

must be 6 or

HAL.
tired.

There, he

5 lbs.

But our

him)

cast.

as

is

five,

fights with

him.

call

is

am

he

sure;

less spirit

He

will

soon be

put the net under

a fine fed sea trout, between 4 and

intrusive brother angler (as I

coming down
call it in

must

the river to take his evening

stout Highlander, with a powerful

we should

7 lbs.

Under
He

he springs out of the water

England,

suite.

tail,

or,

He is resolved

SEA TROUT.

FOVUTH DAY.]

not to be driven

off,

and I

am

93

not sure that the Laird

him from his purpose, except by

and force of arms ; but I will try my
"
Sir, we hope you will excuse
eloquence upon hini.
us for fishing in this pool, where it seems you were
himself could divert
a stronger

tail,

going to take your cast; but the Laird has desired us

and has given up

to stand in his shoes for a few days,

we

angling while

are here

thousand miles for

are too

we

much

nearly a

amusement, we are sure you

and
;

this

your

fish kettle

while

POIET.

shall

send

He grumbles
tail

good sport

and

is off

to us,

you have hit him in the right place.

a pot fisher, I

am

sure,

and somewhat hungry,

and, provided he gets the salmon, does not care

catches

HAL.

we

we hope,

with his
is

we come

morning and evening, and we

a salmon before night."

are here,

He

as

of a gentleman to spoil our sport

will take care to supply

you, as

and

it

who

You

are severe on the Highland gentleman,

and I think extremely unjust.
Nothing could be
more ready than his assent, and a keen fisherman

must not be expected

be in the best possible

humour, when he finds sport which he believes he has
to

and which perhaps he generally enjoys

without interruption, taken away from him by entire
There is, I know, a disputed point about
strangers.

a right to,

fishing with the rod,

between him and the Laird

SALMOXIA.

94

would have been too much to have anticipated

courteous greeting from one, who considers us as

and
a

[foubth day.

it

But I

the representatives of an enemy.

a large fish which has just risen at the

I think he

coming

My

in.

run from the

fresh

is

fly

tail

sea, for

see there

is

of the pool.

the tide

and tackle are almost too

is

fine for

put on my first fly with a

link
and a stretcher of triple
very strong single gut
He has taken my fly, and I hold him a
gut.
so large a fish,

and I

will

powerful fish:

he must be between 10 and

He

and

fights well,

him

off that rock,

have turned him, and he

pool

such a

fish

is

"1

5 lbs.

get up the rapid at the

I must try

top of the pool.

to keep

tries to

my

strength with him,

or he will break me.

now

in a

good

part of the

cannot be tired in a minute or two,

but requires from ten to twenty

depending upon

his

activity and strength, and the rapidity of the stream

He is now playing against the
he moves against.

strongest rapid in the river, and will soon give in,

should he keep his present place.

POIET.
You have tired him.

HAL.

He seems

to shore.

you

can.

Now
He

fairly tired

gaff

is

safe

him ;
;

I shall bring

him

in

strike as near the tail as

we must

prepare

him

for the

Give him a stunning blow on the head to

pot.
deprive him of sensation, and then make a transverse
cut just below the

gills,

and crimp him, by cutting

to

DRESSING SALMON.

focbth day.]

95

the bone on each side, so as almost to divide

slices

and now hold him by

There

bleed.

the

lnm

minutes

there,

and

is

much under

him remain

let

and

salt boil furiously,

give time to the water to recover

throw in another;

its

and

heat before you

and so proceed with the whole

leave the head out, and tlrrow in the thickest

pieces

first.

"Why did you not crimp your

HAL. We
Our
have
PHYS.

trout

lrim

will

prevented

me from

for frying

he

enough

said

is

good transverse slices.

salmon is a good fish, and

This

from the

sea.

You

adheres to Ins sides, and he

poacher

is

but

not large

fresh as

see the salt-water louse

bright and silvery, and

I dare say his weight is not less than

and I know of no better fish for the table

a thick fish
141bs.,

fried.

attending to the preparation

better not crimped, as he

is

to give

POIET.

you

for ten

then carry him to the pot, and before you

put in a slice let the water

fish

may

mean temperature

of the atmosphere in this climate, and

place

into

a small spring, I see, close under

is

that bank, which I dare say has the

50

him

that he

tail

than one of that

PHYS.

size.

It appears to

ought to have struggled

great exertions on your

me that so powerful a fish

much longer yet, without
:

part,

appeared quite exhausted, and

in

ten

lay on

minutes he

his side as if

SALMONIA.

96

[fourth day.

dying this induces me to suppose, that there must

be some truth in the vulgar opinion of anglers, that
fish are, as it were, drowned by the play of the rod
:

and

reel.

HAL.

The

vulgar

of

opinion

anglers

subject I believe to be perfectly correct

on

this

though, to

apply the word drowning to an animal that lives in

the water

is

not quite a
to

as

fit

use of language.

know,

Fish,

passing water,

you ought
respire by
which always holds common air in solution, through
their gills

system

membrane, by the use of a

surrounding the fauces, which

or branchial

muscles

of

openings and closings of

life

of

the

the same

fish

is

manner

dependent

air.

in the upper part of the

him

to

jaw, his

mouth

is

a fish

is

hooked

mouth by the strength

open the

exerted, particularly

a rapid stream ; and

on the process in
quadruped is on in-

When

a lever to the

rod applied as
possible for

this

as that of a

spiring and expiring

force is

and expansions, or
membrane, and the

constant contractions

occasion

when he

line,

gills

it

is

as long

of the

scarcely
as this

when he
is

is
moving in
hooked in the lower

kept closed by the same application

no aerated water

of the strength of the rod, so that

can be inspired.

Under

these circumstances he

quickly deprived of his vital forces, particularly

is

when

he exhausts his strength by moving in a rapid stream.

SALMON.

FOURTH DAY.]

fish,

force

hooked

mouth where

of the

in a part

of the rod will render his

unavailing,

is

much

in the

same

efforts

to

the

respire

state as that of a

deer caught round the neck by the lasso of a South

American peon, who gallops forwards, dragging his

victim after him, which is killed by strangulation in a
very short time.
is,

When

fishes are

on the outside of the body,

they will often fight for

many

hooked

foul, that

as in the fins or

tail,

hours, and in such

cases very large salmon are seldom caught, as they

of breathing unimpaired ; and

do
not
exhaust
themselves by violent muscular
they
efforts, they may bid defiance to the temper and the

retain their powers

if

skill of

the fisherman.

the upper part of the

large salmon,

mouth

hooked in

in the cartilage or

bone

sometimes likewise fight for a long while, particularly if he keep in the deep and still parts of the
river, for he is able to prevent the force of the hook,

will

applied by the rod, from interfering with his respira-

and by a powerful effort, can maintain his place,

and continue to breathe in spite of the exertions of the

tion,

angler.

A fish,

in such case,

is

said to be sulky,

his instinct, or his sagacity, generally enables

conquer his enemy.

It

is,

and

him

to

however, rarely that fishes

hooked in the mouth are capable of using freely the

muscles subservient to respiration ; and their powers
are generally, sooner or later,
destroyed by suffocation.
H

SALMONIA.

98

POIET.

The

explanation that you have just been

giving us of the

for death

we

of playing fish, I confess

me more

afraid than

are pursuing a very cruel

I was

amusement

by strangulation, I conceive, must be very

laborious, slow,

PHYS.

effects

and makes

alarms me,
before, that

[fourth day.

and

painful.

I think as I did before I

was an angler,
but I

as to the merciless character of field-sports;

doubt

if

part of the process of the fly-fisher

this

ought so strongly to alarm your feelings. As far as

analogies from warm-blooded animals can apply to
the case, the death that follows obstructed respiration
is

quick, and preceded by insensibility.

many

instances of persons

who have

There are

recovered from

the apparent death produced by drowning, and had

no recollection of any violent or intense agony

indeed, the alarm or passion of fear generally absorbs

all

the sensibility, and the physical suffering

the mental agitation.

experience, that there
insensibility

I can answer from

is

no pain which precedes the

life,

but oftener a pleasurable feeling,

as in the case of the respiration of

in

the

nitrous oxide.

suffocation

abstraction of air

burning,

in

my own

occasioned by breathing gases unfitted

for supporting

And

is lost

we have

produced by the gradual

in a close room where charcoal is

the record of the son of a celebrated

chemist, that the sensation winch precedes the deep

DEA TH BY SUFFOCA T10N.

fourth day.]

99

sleep that ends in death is agreeable.

There

more

insensibility

pain

in

recovering

produced by the abstraction of

going it, as I can answer from

and

it

is,

believe,

that

asserted,

the

quite

of

pain

the

from,

air

is far

than in under-

my own

feelings;

what has

true,

being born,

acquiring the power of respiration,

is

been

winch

is

greater than

that of dying, which

ORN.

is
losing the power.
have heard, that persons who have been

recovered from the insensibility produced by hanging,

have never any recollection of the sufferings which

preceded it ; and as the blood is immediately
determined to the head in this operation, probably
apoplectic insensibility

HAL.

The

Divine

laws

Wisdom

is

almost instantaneous.

of nature

and increasing happiness.

to

precede the mutilation

organs which are

are

for the purpose

all

directed

of preserving

by
life

Pain seems in

all

or destruction

of those

essential to vitality,

and

cases

for the

end

them; but the mere process of dying

seems to be the falling into a deep slumber ; and in
of preserving

who have no

fear of death dependent upon

can
hardly be accompanied by very
imagination,
the human being moral and
In
intense suffering.

animals,

it

intellectual motives

constantly operate in enhancing

the fear of death, winch, without these motives in a

reasoning being, would probably become null, and the

h2

SALMONIA.

100

love of

be

life

or disgust

lost

upon every

but imagination

[fourth day.

slight occasion of pain

is

creative with respect

to both these passions, which, if they exist in animals,

independent of reason, or as instincts. Pain

seems intended by an all-wise Providence to prevent
the dissolution of organs, and cannot follow their
exist

destruction,

process

know

several instances in

death has

of

been observed,

termination, by good philosophers

are worth repeating

winch the

even to

its

and the instances

Dr. Cullen, when dying,

said

is

to have faintly articulated to one of his intimates,

"I

wish I had the power of writing, or speaking, for

then I would describe to you how pleasant a thing it
"
is to
die
Dr. Black, worn out by age and a
:

pulmonary hemorrhage, which obliged

disposition to

him

to live very low,

whilst eating

meal of bread and milk,

fell

asleep,

his

customary

and died in so

tranquil a manner, that he did not even spill the contents of the basin whicli rested
late Sir Charles

friends,

on

his

knee ; and the

Blagden, whilst at a social meal with his

Mons. and Mad.

Berthollet,

and Gay-Lussac,

died in his chair so quietly, that not a drop of the

coffee in the cup,

POIET.

which he held in

Give us no

not think

it

more such

his hand,

was

spilt.

instances, for I do

wise to diminish the love of

life,

or to

destroy the fear of death.

HAL.

There

is

no danger of

this.

These passions

NATURE OF PAIN

FOURTH DAT.]

101

'.

founded on immutable laws of our nature, which

philosophy cannot change ; and it would be good if
are

we could

give the same security of duration to the

love of virtue and the fear of vice or shame, which

are connected with

immutable

ought to occupy

more the consideration

far

But

destined for immortality.

Now we

have

fish for dinner,

task

my

a brace of fish here before dinner

It

is

is

finished

I have not

skill.

fished over the best parts of this pool

of beings

to our business.

Physicus and Poietes, try your

PHYS.

and which

interests,

you may catch

ready.

too late, and I shall go and see that

is

all is right.

POTET.

me
is

your

I
fly

one or two casts; but give

I like always to be sure that the tackle

will take

taking.

HAL.

Try

at first the very top of the

pool, though
I fear you will get nothing there ; but here is a cast

which

think

commanded

from

rarely without a

trout

of

minutes.

10

the

the

good

lbs.,

When

Highlander can

or

other

fish.

side,

have

hardly

and which

is

There, he rose ; a large

Now

salmon.

a fish has missed the

wait
fly,

few

he will

not rise again till after a pause particularly if he

has been for some time in the fresh water.
Now
try

He

him

again.

has

been some time in the water, and he

has risen, but he

is

a dark fish that

tries

to

SALMONIA.

102

drown the
will

[fourth day.

with a blow of his

fly

not hook him except foul,

he would break you.

below where I caught
POIET. I have
HAL. Come, we

POIET.

Now

I fear you
likely

Try the bottom of the pool,

my

fish.

tried all the casts

I used.

tail.

when most

will

change the

I have one;

and nothing rises.

fly for that which

he has taken the

fly

under water, and I cannot see him.

HAL.

Straighten

He

him.

POIET.

is

your line, and we shall soon see

a sea trout, but not a large one.

But he

and must be

fights like a salmon,

near 5 lbs.

HAL.

Under

strong and

active,

lbs.

but these

fish

are

always

and sometimes give more sport

Shorten your line, or he will carry

you over the stones and cut the link gut. He is
there already; you have allowed him to carry out

than larger

too

much

fish.

wind up as quick
hand upon him. He

line

as

keep a tight
good place, and in a few minutes more
I have the net.
3 lbs.

There, he

is

is

can,

and

now back

to a

you
will

be spent.

a sea trout of nearly

This will be a good addition to our dinner;

I will crimp him, that you

may compare boiled sea

Now, if you

trout with broiled, and with salmon.

please,

we

will cool this fish at the spring,

go to our inn.

and then

CRIMPING.

FOURTH DAY.]

POIET.
reason

If

like.

effect

of

you

the

for

am

endeavouring to find a

and

crimping

Have you

preserving the curd of fish.

on

103

cold

in

ever thought

this subject ?

HAL.

Yes;

I conclude that the fat of salmon

between the Hakes of the muscles

much albumen and

gelatine,

and

mixed with

is

extremely liable

is

and by keeping it cool, the decompoand by the boiling salt and water,
;

to decompose,

sition is retarded

winch

is

of a higher temperature than that of

albumen

boiling water, the

irritability

the

of

coagulated, and the

is

The crimping, by preventing

curdiness preserved.

the

common

fibre

from being gradually

exhausted, seems to preserve it so hard and crisp,

that it breaks under the teeth ; and a fresh fish not

crimped

is

generally tough.

excellent angler, has

fat of fish

friend of mine, an

made some experiments on

the

and he considers the red colour of trout,

salmon, and charr, as owing to a peculiar coloured oil,

be extracted by alcohol; and this accounts
winch

may

for the

want of

spawning.

it

in fish that have fed

ill,

and

after

In general the depth of the red colour

and the quantity of curd are proportional.

POIET.
least

Would not the

possess more

killed

by the

immediately
reel

there

curd,
?

fish
if

be

still

caught

better, or at

in

a net

and

In the operation of tiring

considerable muscular

must be

SALMONIA.

104

and I should suppose expenditure of

exertion,

matter.

HAL.

[fourth bAY.

There can be no doubt but the

fish

oily

would

be in a more perfect state for the table from the nets

vet a fish in high season does not lose so

during the short time he

much
of

difference

and I

am

as to

fat

make

not sure, that the action

does not

after

crimping

on the hook,

is

much

give a better

sort

of

This, however, may be fancy ;

our
See
discuss the matter again at table.

crispness to the fibre.

we

will

companion on the lake, the eagle,

the river, and has pounced upon a

is

coming down

fish in

the pool

near the sea.

PHYS

fear

he

will interfere

us request Ornither to shoot him.

and to preserve him

nearer,

with our sport let

I wish to see him

as a

specimen for the

Zoological Society.

HAL.
I think

O
it

no.

He

will not spoil our sport

would be a pity

now

it is

and

Besides, the pool where he

of its poetical ornaments.

is

to deprive this spot of one

fishing contains scarcely any thing but trout

too shallow for salmon,

POIET.

am

who run

into the cruives.

of your opinion, and shall use

my

eloquence to prevent Ornither from attempting the

life

of so beautiful a bird

well suited to the scenery,

its

habits.

so majestic in

its

form, so

and so picturesque in

all

THE DINNER.

toubth day.]

THE INNKEEPER.

105

Gentlemen, dinner

is

ready

THE DINNER.
HAL. Now

take your places.

What

think you

of our fish ?

PHYS.

never

ate

better;

but I want

the

Harvey or Reading sauce.

HAL. Pray let me entreat you to use no other
sauce than the water in which he was boiled.
I

assure

you

this is the true

fresh salmon

and

for the

vinegar and mustard,

Epicurean way of eating

trout, use

a sauce

only a

little

a la Tartar e, without

the onions.

POIET

Well, nothing can

not think

fresh

net-caught

be better
fish

can

and I do

be

superior

to these.

HAL.

And

these snipes are excellent.

journey has given

me

Either

my

an appetite, or 1 think they are

the best I ever tasted.

ORN.

They

are good, but I have tasted better.

HAL.Where ?
ORN. On the

continent;

where

snipe, that rests during its migration

to

the

common

from the north

the south in the marshes of Italy and Carniola,

and the double or

to resemble that

solitary snipe,

bird,

become

so

fat,

as

which was formerlv fattened

SA LMONIA

106

[fourth day.

and they have, I think, a

better flavour from being fed on their natural food.
HAL. At what time have you eaten them?
in Lincolnshire, the ruff

ORN.

have eaten them both in spring and

but the autumnal birds are the best, and

autumn;

are like the ortolan of Italy.

Where

HAL
ORN

does the double snipe winter

I believe in Africa and Asia Minor.

They

England, except driven by an

east wind in the spring, or by a strong north wind in
are rarely seen in

the autumn.

Finland and

Their natural progress

pass more
*

From

to

and from

Siberia, through the continent of Europe,

and from the

to

is

east,

east

and south.*

In autumn they

both because they are aided by west

the food, and the remains of food found in the stomach of the

douhle snipe, I think I have ascertained, that it requires a kind of worm

which is not found in winter even in the temperate climes of Europe ;

and that

it

feeds differently from the snipe.

There are certainly none

found after the end of October in either Illyria or Italy ; and I believe
the same may be said of the end of May, as to their summer migration,
I have opened the stomachs of at least a
dozen of these birds, and their contents were always of the same kind;
or their skins, of different sizes,
long slender white hexapode larvae,
from that of the maggot of the horse-fly to one thrice as long. I

or their breeding migration.

believe all these insects were the larvae of tibulae of different species.

In the stomach of the common snipe, which is stronger and larger, I

have generally found earth-worms, and often seeds, and rice, and
I conjecture, that, in the temperate climates of Europe, most
gravel.
of the aquatic larvae on which the solitary snipe feeds are converted
into flies in the late spring and autumn, which probably limits the
period of their migration.

In 1827 the solitary snipe passed through

DOUBLE

fourth day.]

SNIPE.

107

winds, and because the marshes in the east of Europe

are wetter in that season
and

Italy

lllyria

heard of the

between the 15th of March and the 6th of May. I

at Ravenna the 17th of March, and I shot two near

first

Laybach on the 5th of May

for

and in spring they return,

but though I was continually searching

no more. This year they returned

fortnight after, I found

them a

and I saw some in the marshes of lllyria on

from the north early
In 1828 they were later in their vernal passage,
the 19th of August.
;

and likewise

in their return.

till

appear

found them in

on which day

as late as the 17th,

lllyria

through May,

shot three, and they did not re-

the beginning of September.

found one on the 3rd, and

three on the 4th, and twenty were shot on the 7th.

As

this bird is rarely seen

liarities.

It

is

in

England,

more than one-third

has a breast spotted with gray feathers.

of the snipe

beak

Its

mention

shall

larger than the

common

is

its

pecu-

snipe,

and

shorter than that

the old ones have feathers almost pure white in their

and as they spread them when rising, they are easily distinguished
by this character from the snipe but in the young birds that I have
seen in August, this character was wanting.
They are usually very
tails,

fat, particularly

ounces
half

their weight varies from six to nine

;
ones are rarely above seven ounces and a
have killed more than a hundred, I can speak of

the young birds

but even the

and though

fattest

half-a-dozen only that weighed above eight ounces and a half.

In

spring they are usually found in pairs, the female being rather larger,

and having a paler breast ; in autumn they are solitary.

They prefer
wet meadows to bogs, or large, deep marshes. They usually lie closer
than snipes, and seldom fly far ; their flight is straight, like that of
a jack snipe, and they are easily shot.

Attention to the migrations of birds might,

have no doubt, lead

to

important indications respecting the character and changes of the weather

and the seasons.

(1828) seems

The

late migration of the solitary snipe

to have been an indication of a

But
much knowledge and

form opinions upon

in the north of Europe.

to

requires

caution.

the tibulae on which this snipe feeds,

this

year

wet and backward summer

The

facts of this

kind

perfection of the larvae of

depends

upon a number of

SALMONIA.

108

[fourth day.

but the larger proportion through

are carried

Italy, where they

the
and
winch
at that time is
Sirocco,
by

extremely wet.
claret

us have another bottle of

let

Come,

man

a pint per

is

much

not too

such a

after

day's fatigue.

HAL.
days,

men

You have made me

and I forbid

it.

in perfect health

is

president for these four

half pint of wine for

and

to take vour exercise better,

system of living in England

act too

feel better for this

How

few people calculate upon the

of constantly renewed fever in our luxurious

abstinence.
effects

young

enough, and you will be able

powerfully, the

The heart

blood

is

is

made

to

thrown upon the

nobler parts, and, with the system of wading adopted

by some sportsmen, whether in shooting or

fishing, is

delivered either to the hemorrhoidal veins, or,

worse, to the head.

I have

known

what

is

several free livers,

who have terminated their lives by apoplexy, or have

been rendered miserable by palsy, in consequence of
the joint effects of cold feet and too stimulating a diet;
that is to say, as much animal food as they could
with a pint or perhaps a bottle of wine per day.

guided by me,
circumstances

my friends, and

the temperature

the quantity of rain since.

Be

neither drink nor wade.

when

the

deposited,

and

of the last year, the period

eggs were laid, the heat of the water

eat,

when they were

The migration

one link in a great chain of causes and

extending from Africa to Siberia.

of the solitary snipe

effects,

all

is

only

connected, and

WADING.

FOURTH DAY.]

know

there are old

men who have done

09

both, and

have enjoyed perfect health ; bnt these are devil's decoj/s

to the unwary, and ten suffer for one thai escapes.
I
could quote to you an instance from this very county,
in one of the strongest

men

He

I have ever known.

was not intemperate, but he lived luxuriously, and

waded as a salmon fisher for many years in this very
river

but before he was

fifty,

palsy deprived

him

of

the use of Ins limbs, and he

is

of the danger of the system

winch you are ambitious

still

a living example

of adopting.

ORN.
Well, I give up the wine, but I intend
wade in Hancock's boots to-morrow.

HAL.
feet

Wear them, but do not wade

become cold in

in them.

to

The

a stream of water constantly passing

over the caoutchouc and leather, notwithstanding the

thick stockings.
the feet
They are good for

keeping

warm, and I think where there

is exercise,

as in snipe

shooting, they may be used without any bad effects.

But I advise no one to stand still (which an angler

must do sometimes) in the water, even with these

ingenious water-proof inventions.

All anglers should

remember old Boerhaave's maxim of health, and act

"
upon it
Keep the feet warm, the head cool, and
:

the body open."" *

PHTS.
*

[The above

am

sorry

we

did

not

"
cautions, as regards
drinking,"

examine more
and high

living, are

SALMONIA.

HO

[FOITETH DAT.

of the fish we caught,

minutely the weight and size
and compare the anatomy of the salmon and the sea

but we were in too great a hurry to see them

on the table, and our philosophy yielded to our

trout

hunger.

HAL.
this

We

have plenty of opportunities for

and we can now walk down to the

shall

examination

fishing-house and

see probably half a

hundred

fish of

different sizes, that have been taken in the cruives,

this evening,

and examine them

Let us go
PHYS. never
ALL.

before

at our leisure.

saw so many

fish

of

this

and I conclude that heap of smaller

composed of trout.
HAL. Certainly.

kind

fish is

Let us compare one of the

warranted by the amplest experience but, in relation to wading, they

modemay be considered as severe, and of questionable propriety. In
;

ration, especially in

autumn, when our

rivers are comparatively

warm,

be practised with little if any

risk by those of sound constitution, and with some benefit even, using
shoes or boots so perforated as not to confine the water, and wearing
I

am

disposed to think that wading

worsted stockings.

remedy

Such a

may

foot bath as is thus obtained is

for corns, superior to

any other

am

an excellent

acquainted with

it

also

diminishes fatigue and makes the exercise more agreeable, as well as

With all deference to the received maxim of
ensures better sport.

Boerhaave

just, in just

degree,

it

is

well to remember, that the

of
unprotected by hair, as if it were the intention
nature that they should be cool.
Water-proof boots, unless when

human

feet are

so heating and
wading, are, to the majority of anglers, intolerable, being

wearying.

J. D.]

TROUT AND SALMON COMPARED.

fourth day.]

I have selected two

largest trout with a salmon.

fresh
are,
is

Ill

fish,* which, from their curved lower jaws,

The salmon you see
I conclude, both males.

run

broader,

has a

more forked, and the

The trout,

rather

tail

teeth in proportion are rather smaller.

and more black brown spots on the

and the head of the trout is a little larger in

likewise, has larger

body j

The salmon has 14

proportion.

10

fins,

in each of the ventral,

spines in the pectoral

13 in the

sures

and

3SJ inches

in length,

his weight, as

and 21 inches in

see, is

you

anal,

21 in

The salmon mea-

the caudal, and 15 in the dorsal.

girth,

The trout has

22ilbs.

one spine less in the pectoral, and two less in the anal
fin, and measures 30 \ inches in length, and 16 inches

and

in girth,

them.

of the salmon,

contains nothing but a

the salmon
size that

is

We

Ins weight is 11 lbs.

The stomach

little

will

now open

you perceive,

yellow fluid, and, though

twice as large, does not exceed

of the trout.

The stomach

much

in

of the trout,

unlike that of the salmon, will be found full of food

we

open it. See, there are

which come out of it.

will

eels

PHYS.

But

surely the stomachs of salmon

sometimes, when opened,

HAL.

half digested sand

contain food

must

opened ten or twelve, and never

found anything in their stomachs but tape-worms,
have

See Vignettes,

p. 83.

SALMONIA.

112

bred there, and some yellow

is

generally owing

fluid

but, I believe this

to their being caught at the time of

when they

migration,

[fourth day.

are

from the sea

travelling

load themselves with

upwards, and do not willingly
Their digestion appears to be very quick, and
food.
their habits

seem to show, that

having taken a

after

bait in the river they do not usually seek

work

the

of digestion

is

nearly performed

another
:

till

but when

thev are taken at sea, and in rivers in the winter, food,

am

The

told, is

sea trout

the land trout,

stomach.

PHYS.

much more

his

know

But

sea trout

there

I have heard of

HAL.
*

and

like

and

is

the fish called

but I should rather think

not:

common
are

fish

salmon. f

surely

salmon, that live in the sea and

worts, peales,

fish,

Fauna, Salmo Eriox ?

that fish a variety of the

PHYS.

voracious

not willingly found with an empty

is

I presume the

bv Linnaeus, in

HAL.

sometimes found in their stomachs.*

is

other

come

species

of

into our rivers

called grays, bull trout, scurfs,

wliitlings.

I have never been able to identify more than

fisher on the Tay, I have heen informed
stomach of the Salmon, such as minnow,
and earth worms ; and that not unfrequently he has

[By an experienced salmon

that he often found food in the

small trouts,
witnessed

it

feeding

greedily, taking a bait ravenously, not

even by the prick of the hook. J. D.J

64.
*t" See note, p.

repulsed

VARIETIES OF SALMON

fourth day.]

113

the salmo solar, or salmon, and salmo trutta, or sea

trout, in

the

A sea trout

and Ireland.

Britain

rivers of

whitlings I believe to be the

young

which I saw in Ireland, called a bull

was of the same kind

vou

as these

The

of the sea trout.

see here

trout,

but fresh

water trout are sometimes carried in floods to the sea,

and come back larger and altered in colour and form,

for new species
and as each

and are then mistaken

river possesses a peculiar variety belonging to

with differences depending upon food and

it,

this,

size, will,

think, account for the peculiarities of particular fish,

without the necessity

I remember

species.

supposing them

of

many

years ago, the

distinct

first

time I

ever fished for salmon in spring in the Tweed, I caught

with the

one fine morning in March, two fish

same length one was a male of the last
season, that had lost its milt ; the other a female fresh
from the sea. They were so unlike, that they did not
fly,

nearly of the

appear

of the

same

species

the

spent

or

kipper

salmon was long and lean, showing an immense head,

spotted all over with black and brown spots, and the
belly almost

black;

the

other

without spots, and the head small.

and anal

and

silvery,

Even the

pectoral

bright

had more spines in the newly run fish,

some of the smaller ones having been probably rubbed

off in

time,

fins

spawning by the other. I would not for some

assured by an experienced fisherman, believe,

till

SAL MO XI A.

114

[fourth day.

And when

that the spent fish ivas a salmon.

their flesh

was compared on the table, one was white, flabby, and

bad, and without curd; the other of the brightest
pink, and full of dense curd.

Then, though of the

same length, one weighed only

When
trout
that

it is

spawn
fish of

41bs., the other 9^1bs.

recollected, that different

at different times in the

salmon and sea

same

and

the same year, being born at different

seasons, from Christmas to

Lady-day,

and

run up the having

autumn
young salmon

*
migrated to the sea in spring
all sizes in

river,

summer and

rivers of

the

from 2 to lOlbs. in weight, the young sea trout from

i to 3 lbs. in weight

it is

not

difficult to

account for

the variety of names given by casual observers to individuals of these two species.

my

But I must not

forget

promise of sending a fish to the Highlander, with

whose sport we have interfered. There is a good

salmon, which shall be taken to him immediately, and
for

winch I

shall

pay the taxman

his usual price of

d. per pound.
*

[Relative to the length of time that the young of the salmon

remain in fresh water, see additional note

J.

D.]

at the

end of

this

volume.

Halstadt Lake and

Town. See Page

26

1.

FIFTH DAY.
HALIEUSPOIETESORNITHERPHYSICUS.

HAL

Morning.

It is a
Well, is your tackle all ready?
and cloudy morning, with a gentle breeze
a day made for salmon fishing.

fine fresh

[They proceed

to the river.']

HAL. Now, my
pools to

you

till

friends, I give

one

o' clock

up the two best

shall amuse

and I

SALMOyiA.

116

myself above and below

As

there

is

rare in this

examine your flies a

likely to be useful;
flies,

probably with

a promise of a

country

and, as you

what

is

and point out those I think

show you my

have duplicates of them, you can

which I point out, and place it in

all

fly

book where

when

trout fishing'.

day, with

or rather, I will

each select the

mixed

DAY

a good deal of sunslrine, I will

little,

a part of the
First

[FIFTH

the cloud

is

it

may

easily

be found.

on, I advise the use of one

of these three golden twisted

flies,

with

silk bodies,

orange, red and pale blue, with red, orange, and gray
hackle, golden pheasant's hackle for

tail,

and king-

fisher's blue, and golden pheasant's brown hackle

under the wing beginning with the brightest fly, and
;

changing

to the

disappear, and

it

darker

become

one.

Should the clouds

bright, change your

flies

for

a fly
darker ones, of which I will point out three
with a brown body and a red cock's hackle, one with
a dun body and black hackle and light wing, and one
:

with a black body, a hackle of the same colour, and a

brown mallard's wing. All these flies have, you see,

silver twist round their bodies, and all kingfisher's
feather under the wing,
for the tail.

the

medium

For the

and golden pheasant's feather

size of

your

flies,

recommend

size, as the water is small to-day;

but

from the butterfly size of a hook of

trying
half an inch in width, to one of a quarter.
Now,
all sizes,

SALMON

fifth day.]

FISHING.

Physicus, cast your orange

You

object

fish well,

of

moving the

clown the water

and then pull

it

common

were

but, in salmon fishing,

manner

into that rapid at the

I saw a large fish run there this

top of the pool;

moment.

fly

117

It

fly.

trout your

you must alter your

must not float quietly

you must allow it to sink a little,

back by a gentle jerk not raising it

out of the water,

and

then

let it sink again, till it

has been shown in motion, a

little

in every part of

That

your

cast.

below the surface,

is

right,

he has

risen.

hold him.

HAL. He
PHTS.

He

is

a noble fish

is

a large grilse, I see

Hold him ti^ht he will fic;ht hard.

PHYs. There
he springs out

by

his

play.

Once, twice, thrice, four times

HAL.
be

He runs
the
but do not hurry him.

the

of

He

is

water

a merry one

stream, and will soon

against

tired,

Pull hard now, to

He
prevent him from running round that stone.
comes in.
I have him
I will gaff him for you.
!

goodly

fish of this tide.

larger fish at the

But

see, Poietes

bottom of the great

pool,

has a

and

down by him almost to the sea.

POIET. I cannot hold him
He has run out

carried

my

all

line.

HAL.

we

is

I see

him

he

is

hooked

shall never recover him, for

he

is

and I

fear

going out to

sea.

foul,

SALMONIA.

118

me

[fth day.

I will try and turn him; and do

down
to
the
entrance of the pool, and throw
run
you
to
make
him, if possible, run back.
stones,
Ay

Give

the rod,

that stone has done

good

up
tell

him

service

Now

into the pool again.

he

is

to bring a long pole, to keep

from the

You

sea.

have a good

now running

the fisherman, and

call

him

if

possible

and I

assistant,

leave you, for tiring this fish will be at least a

He

two hours.

him by a

not

is

hooked under the

much

than 20

less

will

work of

lbs.

and

is

you cannot suffocate

so that
gills,

I wish you good fortune

straight line.

but should he turn sulky, you must not allow him to

rest, but make the fisherman move him with the pole
again ; your chance of killing him depends upon his
being kept incessantly in action, so
exhaust himself by exercise.

you some

river trout for

to see, before I take

my

has likewise hold of

he may

that

I shall go and catch

your dinner

but

am

glad

leave of you, that Ornither

fish,

and, from

Iris

activity,

lusty sea trout.

[He

HAL.
20

goes,

and

returns in the afternoon.']

Well,

lbs.

POIET.

Alas

Poietes, I

he broke me,

went to the bottom

my

line

hope to see your

turned

fish of

sulky,

and

and when he was roused again,

came back without the

fly

so that I conclude

PRODUCE OF MORXING'S SPORT.

fifth day.j

he had cut

trout

and

since,

grilses, that fairly

HAL.

And,

"Well, 1 see,

And

Physicus

PH YS.

by rubbing them against some

grilses and a

But I have caught two

sharp stone.
sea

links

my

119

two

lost

others,

salmons

or

got the hooks out of their mouths.

what have

Ornither,

you

done?

a salmon, a grilse, and a sea trout.

I have lost three fish

one of wliich broke

at the top of the pool,

by running amongst the

small
sea trout.
and
I
have
one
;
only
HAL. Your fortune will come another day. Why,

me,

rocks

you have not a

is

now

single crimped fish for dinner,

nearly two

o' clock

catching for the picklers, for those fish

the boiling-house.

and

it

and you have been

may

all

go to

I must again be your purveyor.

Can you point out

to

you have not fished

me any

part of this pool where

ALL. No.

Then have
PHYS.
you have charm
catching
HAL. Let me know what
you have
HAL.

yes

little

chance.

for

flies

and I may, perhaps,

AYith

my

I will

make an

POIET.

tell

you

if

fish.

tried,

I have a chance.

small bright humming-bird, as you call

it

essav.

But

this

fishery is really

very limited

and two pools for four persons a small allowance.

HAL. If you could have seen this river twenty

SALMONIA.

120

when

years ago,

[fifth day.

the cruives were a mile higher up,

then you might have enjoyed fishing.

There were

eight or ten pools of the finest character possible for

angling, where a fisherman of

my

hooked

thirty fish in a morning.

perfect,

and

same

state

it

might

easily

but even as

acquaintance has

The

river

was then

be brought again into the

it

is

now, with

this single

good pool and this second tolerable one, I know no

place where I could, in the summer months, be so
secure of sport as here
certainly no where in Great

Britain.

POIET.

I have often heard the Tay and the

vaunted as salmon

They were good salmon

HAL.

Tweed

rivers.
rivers,

and are

still

very good, as far

as the profit of the proprietor is

concerned;

for

but,

deteriorated.

except on

going on,
suffers very

few

fish

flood offers the sole

and

this

fishing,

which

much

constantly

chance of a good day's sport,

Tweed and

The Tweed,

is

Sundays and in close time,

to escape; and a Sunday's

only in particular parts

I remember the
state.

angling, they are very

The net

in the late

of these rivers.*

Tay in a far better

Lord Somerville's time,

the

*
[It is stated by Mr. Young, in his valuable little treatise,
" Natural
History of the Salmon," that in 1812, when stake nets were
in full operation at the mouth of the Tay, the rents of the whole of
that river above

Newburgh had

fallen to the

sum

of 5,1 00Z.

and

THE TAY AND T WEED.

fifth day.]

121

always contained taking-fish after every flood in the

summer.

In the Tay, only ten years ago, at Micklevre,

who took eight fine

I was myself one of two anglers

fish,

them

three of

large salmon, in a short morning's

fishing; but now, except in springy fishing,

fish are little

worth

sport in these rivers

(which

taking', there is
;

when the

no certainty of

and one, two, or three

last is of rare occurrence), are all that

fish

even an

experienced angler can hope to take in a day's skilful

and constant angling.

that seven years after, viz., in 1819, they had risen to 14,627?.

stake nets having been

removed by law

the

as illegal obstructions.

Considering the great deterioration of the majority of salmon rivers,

is of their utter ruin if a reform in the manner

and the danger there

of fishing

them be not

the subject

effected, surely

is

deserving

of,

and urgently requires, the immediate attention of the legislature and

now that the habits of the salmon, and its peculiarities, are better
;

known, were competent

naturalists consulted in preparing a bill, there

could hardly be any difficulty in forming an effective one for the

regulation of the salmon fisheries.

A new

bill

is

reported to be in preparation for the Scotch rivers,

with this intent, to make the close time earlier, except for rod fishing,
and protracting the time of the latter, so as to allow of more fish

running up to breed, and promoting the early, the most

productive breeding, not endangered by winter floods and

safe

and

ice,

and

giving the proprietors of the higher streams, and the streams where the
fish

breed, an interest in preserving them.

If this bill be approved, and

succeed, it is to be hoped that a

measure of a similar kind will be adopted for the English rivers ; for
many of which it is much more needed than for the Scotch. See
additional note at the

end of the volume,

ascertained respecting the salmon.

J.

relative to the facts recently

D.]

SALMOXIA.

122

POIET-

You

[fifth day.

have fished in most of the salmon

rivers of the north of

Europe

give us

some idea of

the kind of sport they afford.

HAL.

I have

the best

countries

fished in some, but perhaps not in

for this it is necessary to

Lapland,

go into barbarous
or the extreme north of
Norway;

and I have generally loved too much the comforts of

life

make any

to

made

greater sacrifices than such as are

in our present expedition.

river at

Drontheim boasted of

as

I have heard the

an excellent salmon

and I know two worthy anglers who have tried

but I do not think they took more fish in a day

river,
it

than I have sometimes taken in Scotland and Ireland.

All the Norwegian rivers that I tried, and they were
in the south of

in the

Norway, contained salmon.

Glommen, one

of the largest rivers in

in the Mandals, which appeared to

for taking

me

I fished

Europe ;

the best fitted

salmon; the Arendal and the Torrisdale.

But, though I saw salmon rise in all these rivers,

1 never took a fish larger than a sea trout ; of these
I always caught

many

and even

in the fiords, or

but I think never any

;
It is true I was
one more than a pound in weight.
small inland salt-water bays

in

Norway

in the beginning of July, in exceedingly

bright weather, and

when

there was no night

for

even at twelve o' clock the sky was so bright, that

I read the smallest print in the columns of a

RIVERS OF NORWA Y

fifth DAT.j

newspaper.

SWEDEN.

3$

was in Sweden

in

later,

123

August;

I fished in the magnificent Gotha, below that grand

fall

Trolhetta, winch to see

is

worth a voyage from

fish worth

England, but I never raised there any

taking

yet a gentleman from

Gothenburg told me

he had formerly taken large trout there. I caught,

in this noble stream, a little trout about as long as
my hand ; and the only fish I got to eat at Trolhetta

The

was bream.
a

like

Ealkenstein, a darker water, very

Scotch river

second-rate

abounds in salmon

the

say

Don

and there I had a very good

fish, which gave me great

I took six

day's fishing.

sport

they were

grilses,

under

61bs.

but I

salmon, which I think was above lOlbs.

lost a

Tins

river,

must be generally excellent; it is not

covered with saw-mills, like most of the Norwegian
I conceive,

rivers

colour

its

is

good, and

it is

not so clear as

the rivers of the south of Norway.

PHTS.

Do

you think the saw-mills hurt

the

fisliing ?

HAL.

I do not doubt

it.

The immense quantity

of sawdust which floats in the water, and which forms

almost
the

lulls

fish,

along the banks, must be poisonous to

by sometimes

interfering with their

fished for

choking

respiration.

salmon in Germany.

their

gills,

and

have never

The Elbe and the

Weser, when I have seen them, were too foul for

SALMON IA.

124

And

in the Rhine, in Switzerland,

and
rise.

I once hooked a
in

which,

my

salmon, but

it

under the

fish,

fall at

Schaffhausen,

youthful ardour, I thought was a

turned out to be an immense chub

avillanous and provoking substitute.

I know,

as

claim

Our

islands,

the superiority over

as

far

all

other lands for tins species of amusement.

it

England
day's salmon
the
of

day

tributary streams, I have never seen a salmon

tiy-fisliing.
its

[fifth

is,

Derwent,

Keswick;

may

however, a

The

fishing.

that

best river I

to

In

get

know

of

a
is

from the beautiful lake

flows

I caught

difficult

little

once,

in

October, a very

large salmon there, and raised another ; but it is only

late in the autumn that there is any chance of sport,

though I have heard the

spring

At Whitwell,

in the

boasted

of.

salmon

heard of salmon and sea trout being taken

have never fished

in

that

river.

fishing

Hodder, I have

The

but

Lord

late

Bolingbroke caught many salmon at Christchurch ;

but a fish a week is as much as can be expected
in that beautiful, but scantily stocked, river.

Small

salmon and sea trout, or sewens, as they are called in

the country, may be caught after the autumnal floods,
I believe, in most of the considerable Welsh, Devon-

and Cornish streams; but I have fished in

shire,

many

of

except

them without

success.

this river, in the

The Conway

end of October,

will

may

some-

ENGLISH RIVERS.

nirit day.J

times, after a great flood, furnish a

and,

if

125

good day's sport

the net fishers could be set aside, several days'

sport.

I have

known two

salmon, one above 201bs.,

and I have taken myself fine

;
which, in an autumnal flood in

taken there in a day

sea trout, or sewens,

Wales, are found in most of the streams near the sea.

POIET.

have heard a Northumberland

man

boast of the rivers of that county, as affording good

salmon

HAL.

fishing.

I have

no doubt that salmon

are somethnes

caught in the Tyne, the Coquet, and the Till

the

present

occurrence.

of

state

these

rivers,

this

is

but, in
a

rare

I was once, for a week, on a good run

North Tyne ; I fished sometimes, but I never

saw a salmon rise ; and the only place in tins river,
of the

where, from

my own

have been caught

knowledge, I can assert salmon

with

the

artificial

the river.

fly,

was

at

There, in 1820,

Mounsey, very high up

two grilses were caught, in the end of August.

have recorded this as a sort of historical occurrence

I
;

and I dare say most of the counties of England, in

which there are salmon rivers, would, upon a minute
inquiry, furnish such instances, if they contained salmon
fishers.

sea

Yorkshire, Devonshire, and Cornwall, with the

on both

PUTS.

sides,

ought to furnish a greater number.

little account of the Scotch

Give us some

and Irish

rivers.

SALMOXIA.

126

HAL.
details

on

fear I shall tire

[fifth day.

you by attempting any

many, that I
but I will say a

this subject, for they are so

hands

in

;
my
ought to take a map
few words on those in which I have had good sport.
of this, as you will understand
First, the Tweed:

from what I mentioned

"fuit"

Yet

still,

for

must now say

fishing, it must

before, I fear I

spring salmon

be a good river. The last great sport I had in that

I
river was in 1817, in the beginning of April.
at Merton, four or five
caught, in two or three hours,
as many in the evening at Kelso
large salmon, and
But this kind of
and one of them weighed 251bs.

fishing cannot be

compared

to the

summer

fishing

the fish play with much less energy, and in general are
in bad season ; and the fly used for fishing is almost
like a bird

four or five times larger than the

summer

and the coarsest tackle may be employed. I have

fly,
heard, that Lord Home has sometimes taken thirty
fish in a day, in

About, and above

morning in July, two or

spring fishing.

Melrose, I have taken, in a

three grilses; and in September the same number.

I have known eighteen taken earlier, by an excellent
salmon fisher, at Merton ; and the late Lord

Somerville often took six or

"

seven

fish in

a clay's

most of

The same "fuit I must apply

Of the Tay I have already spoken.
never caught salmon, though I
have
I
In the Dee

angling.

the Scotch rivers.

to

SCOTCH RIVERS.

fifth day.]

127

have fished in two parts of it, but it was in bad

seasons.
In the Don I have seen salmon rise, and

hooked one, but never

In the Spey I

killed a fish.

enjoyed one of the best day's sport (perhaps the very

it was in the
beginning
best) I ever had in my life
of September, in close time ; the water was low, and
:

as net fishing

had been given over

lower pools were

owed

full of fish.

to the late

Duke

By

for

some

days, the

a privilege, which I

of Gordon, I fished at this

forbidden time, and hooked twelve or thirteen fish in

One was above

one day.

the derangement of

one above

my

201bs.,

301bs., but

reel.

me

winch gave

rapids above the bridge.

order,

after a flood,

up the

river

me by

great play in the

was in excellent

was the same time of the

it

broke

I returned to the same spot

in 1813, the year after: the river

and

it

I landed seven or eight,

I caught nothing

year, but just

the fish had

all

run

the pools, where I had such sport the

were empty.
I have fished there since,
with a like result, but tins was before the 12th of

year before,

August,

the

close

Caithness rivers,

Sutherland

and

salmon, I have no doubt,

may

day.

many

In the

be caught.
The Brora, Sutherland, in 1813 and
was
an
admirable
river: I have often rode
1814,

still

from the mansion of the princely and hospitable lord

and lady of that county, after breakfast, and returned
at

two or three o'clock, having taken from three to

SALMONIA.

128

eight salmon

[fifth day.

several times eight.

There were

five

the wears of the Brora, which always

pools below
contained fish; and at the top of one pool, which

from

its size

was almost inexhaustible, I have taken

three or four salmon the same day.

nearer the sea, was almost equal to

Another pool,
it ; and at that

time I should have placed the Brora above the Ewe

When I fished there last, in
for certainty of sport.

1817, the case was

altered,

and I caught only two or

three fish in the very places where I

before been so successful.

had

six years

In the Helmsdale there

are some good pools, and I have caught fine fish there

when

the river has been high.

river at Thurso,

foul

when

I have fished in the

but without success

made my

attempt.

it

was always

I have heard of a

good salmon river in Lord Reay's country, the

Laxford ; its name, of Norwegian origin, would seem
to be characteristic.'*

most of the streams,

if

Along the coast of Scotland,

taken at the right time, afford

Beauly is a good river,

and I have caught salmon in that very beautiful spot
below the falls of Kilmornack. The Ness, at Inver-

In

sport.

ness,

tins country the

and the Awe, and Lochy, I have fished in, but

I may say the same of the Ayr, and

without success.

of the rivers which

Frith.

empty themselves

into the Solway

little preserved stream, at

Ardgowan, was

Lax

is

the Teutonic

word

for salmon.

IRISH RIVERS.

fifth day.]

129

formerly excellent, after a flood in September, for sea

I have had good sport
trout, and later for salmon
:

there,

and some of

my

had

friends have

better.

In Ireland there are some excellent rivers; and,

comparing the
characters of the two nations, some of them are taken
better caxe of than the Scotch rivers ; which arises a

what you

will hardly believe possible,

good deal from the influence of the Catholic

when they
prietors,

priests,

are concerned in the interests of the pro-

I should place

on the Catholic peasantry.

the Erne, at Ballyshannon, as

now

the

first river, for

salmon fishing from the banks with a rod, in the

British dominions ; and the excellent proprietor of it,
Dr. Sheil,

is

liberal

and courteous to

The Moy,

fly-fishers.

at

Ballina,

all

is

gentlemen
an

likewise

admirable salmon river; and sport, I believe,

may

almost always be secured there in every state of the

waters ; but the best fishing can only be commanded

by the use of a boat. I have taken in the Erne two

or three large salmon in the morning ; and in the

Moy, three

or four grilses, or, as they are called in

Ireland, grauls ;

salmon

fishing.

in salmon

when
casts.

to

it is

was in a very bad season for

The Bann, near Coleraine, abounds

and

this

but, in this river, except in

unlawful to

In the Bush,

close time,

fish there, there are

few good

a small river about seven miles

the east of the Bann, there

is

admirable salmon
K

SALMONIA.

130

\ytstb.

day

and dry
I have hooked

in fine
fishing always after great floods, but

weather

twenty
this

it is

of

little

use to try.

fish in a day, after the first

river;

should

and,

Giant's Causeway

is

sport

August
the

fail,

within a mile of

its

floods, in

celebrated

mouth, and

furnishes to the lovers of natural beauty, or of geo-

The Blackwater,

salmon river
at Castle
offers

only

almost

research,

logical
interest.

inexhaustible

of

sources

at Lismore, is a very

good
and the Shannon, above Limerick and

Connel, whenever the water

is

casts to the fly-fisher

many good
be commanded by

tolerably high,
;

but they can

But there

boats.

no

is

considerable river along the northern or western coast^

with the

has been
exception of the Avoca, winch
that does not afford

spoiled by the copper mines,

salmon, and,

if

taken at the proper time, offer sport to

But it is time for us to return

the salmon fisher.

to our inn.

THE INK
POIET. Should
think

we

bring up
will

shall
fish,

it

fine

day to-morrow,

have good sport ; the high tide will

and the rain and wind of yesterday

have enlarged the

HAL.

be

To-morrow

river.

we must not

Lord's day, and a day of

rest.

It

fish;

it

is

the

ought likewise to

SABBATH DAY.

fifth day.]

131

be a day of worship and thanksgiving to the Great

Cause of all the benefits and blessings we enjoy in
tins

winch we can never

for

life,

sufficiently express

our gratitude.

POIET.

I cannot see what

harm

there can be in

pursuing an amusement on a Sunday, winch you

yourself have called innocent, and which is apostolic
:

nor do I

know

more appropriate way of returning

thanks to the Almighty Cause of

all

being, than in

examining and wondering at his works in that great

temple of nature, whose canopy is the sky, and
where all the beings and elements around us are as
were proclaiming the power and wisdom of Deity.
HAL. I cannot see how the exercise of fishing
can add to your devotional feelings; but, indepen-

it

dent of

and

this,

gaff,

one day.
yourself

and

you employ a servant to carry your net

he, at least, has a right to rest on this

But even
as

to

the

if

you could

abstracted

perfectly

practice, the habits of the country in winch

are,

satisfy

of

correctness

the

we now

form an insurmountable obstacle to the pursuit

amusement by indulging in it, you would

of the

excite the indignation of the

Highland peasants, and

might perhaps expiate the offence by a compulsory

ablution in the river.

POIET.

give

up the point

make

it

a rule

never to shock the prejudices of any person,

k2

even

SALMONIA.

132

when they appear

to

me

[fifth day.

ridiculous

and I

shall still

do so in a case where your authority is against

and I have no taste for undergoing persecution,
;

less

me

when

the cause

is

a better one.

now remember,

that I have often heard of the extreme severity with

which the sabbath

discipline

is

kept in

Scotland;

Can you give us the reason of this ?

HAL. I am not sufficiently read in the Church

History of Scotland to give the cause historically;

but I think it can hardly be doubted, that it is

connected with the intense feelings

the

of

Covenanters, and their hatred with respect to

early

all

the

forms and institutes of the Church of Rome, the ritual

of which

makes the Sunday more a day of innocent

recreation than severe discipline.

PHYS.

Yet

who, I suppose,
as

their

the disciples of Calvin, at Geneva,

must have hated the pope

brethren

of

Scotland,

as

much

do not so rigidly

observe the Sunday; and I remember having been

invited by a very religious

and respectable Genevese

to a shooting party on that day.

HAL. I think climate and the imitative nature of

man modify
state,

in a

this cause

abroad.

Geneva

is

little

brighter climate than Scotland, almost

surrounded by Catholics, and the habits of the

French and Savoyards must influence the people.
The Scotch, with more severity and simplicity of

SABBATH DAY.

fifth day.]

133

manners, have no such examples of bad neighbours,

of the north of England keep the

for the people

Sunday much
POIET.
bours

recollect

if error,

for

in the

Nay,

same way.

Halieus, call

my

creed,

at least, what,

was the error of the western Christian world

1000

The

years.

me

day appears to

rigid observance of the seventh

rather a part of the Mosaic, than

of the Christian dispensation.

this country consider the

they

them not bad neigh-

and respect

enjoin

to

themselves

penances for their sins

see a little

still

interference

The Protestants

of

Catholics bigots, because

and

perform

certain

and surely the Catholics may

more resembling that

spirit,

in the

of the Scotch in innocent amusements,

on a day celebrated

as a festive day, that

our Saviour rose to immortal

life,

everlasting hopes of the Christian.

on which

and secured the

I see no reason

be celebrated with singing,

dancing, and triumphal processions, and all innocent
I see no reason why it
signs of gladness and joy.

why

this day should not

should be given up to severe and solitary prayers, or

to solemn and dull walks ; or why, as in Scotland,
whistling even should be considered as a crime on

Sunday, and

humming

a tune, however sacred, out of

doors, as a reason for violent anger

ORN.

subject.

and persecution.

I agree with Poietes, in his views of the

I have suffered from the peculiar habits of

SALMONIA.

134

the

Scotch

Once

and therefore may complain.

Church,

when a very young

in the north of Ireland,

man, I ventured
put together

the time of divine service to

after

my

[fifth da?

rod, as I

had been used to do in

the Catholic districts of Ireland, and fish for sea trout

in the river at Rathmelton, in pure innocence of heart,

unconscious of wrong

me

when

I found a crowd collect

thought from mere curiosity,

but I soon discovered I was mistaken; anger was

round

at first I

man
motive, and vengeance their object.
soon came up, exceedingly drunk, and began to
such as a
abuse me by various indecent terms,

their

Sabbath breaking papist, &c.

him I was no papist,

It

Sabbath breaker

with imprecations

he seized
;

and

my

it

difficulty, that I recovered

was in vain I

and no intentional

assured

rod and carried

was

my

only

with

property.

it off

great

Another

time I was walking on Arthur's Seat, with some of the

most distinguished professors of Edinburgh attached

to the geological opinions of the late Dr. Hutton; a

discussion took place

upon the phenomena presented

by the rocks under our

principle,

winch I

feet,

and, to

Professor Playfair broke

exemplify a

some

stones,

in

and amiable philosoWe

had
the fragments, when
examined
hardly
pher.
from
a
a man
crowd, who had been assisting at a
field

assisted the venerable

preaching, came

up

to us

and warned us

off,

INSTINCTS.

FIFTH DAY.]

135

u Ye think
ye are only stane breakers, but I
ken ye are Sabbath breakers, and ye deserve to be
saying,

staned with the stanes ye are breaking

HAL. Zeal

of every kind

is

sometimes troublesome,

yet I generally suspect the persons,

of scepticism.

tolerant,

"
!

who

are very

Those who firmly

that a particular plan of conduct

believe,

is essential

to the

man, may be pardoned if they show

The
even anger, when this conduct is not pursued.
severe observance of the Sabbath is connected with
eternal welfare of

the vital creed of these rigid presbyterians

it is

not

therefore extraordinary, that they should enforce it

even with a perseverance that goes beyond the bounds

of

good manners and courtesy.

example of our Saviour,

the

who

They may quote the

expelled the traders from

Temple even by violence.

PHYS.l envy no
in others, be

it

quality of the

mind

or intellect

genius, power, wit, or fancy

but

if

I could choose what would be most delightful, and I

believe

most useful to me, I should prefer a firm

for it makes

religious belief to every other blessing

life

when

all

new hopes,
goodness ;
and
vanish
throws
over the
;
earthly hopes

a discipline

creates

of

most gorgeous
even in death, and from

decay, the destruction of existence, the

of all lights

awakens

life

corruption and decay calls up beauty and divinity

makes an instrument

of torture

and of shame the

SALMONIA.

136

ladder of ascent to paradise

[fifth day

and, far above

binations of earthly hopes, calls

all

com-

np the most delightful

palms and amaranths, the gardens of the

the security of everlasting joys, where the

visions of
blest,

and the sceptic view only gloom, decay,

annihilation, and despair
sensualist

POIET.You

transiently referred, Halieus, yester-

salmons
day, to that instinct of

which induces them

run up rivers from the sea on the approach of rain.

You have had so many opportunities of attending to

to

the instincts of the inferior animals, that I should be

very glad to hear your opinion on that very curious

subject

the nature and development of instincts in

general.

HAL. You must remember,

that, in the conversa-

you allude, I avoided even to pretend

to define the nature of instinct ; but I shall willingly
tion to which

discuss

the

subject

and I expect from yourself,

more light thrown upon it

Ornither, and Physicus,

than I can hope to bestow.

ORN.l believe we have each a peculiar view on
this

matter.

In discussion we may enlighten and

For myself, I consider instincts

correct each other.

merely as results

of

organisation,

part

of

the

machinery of organised forms. Man is so constituted,

that his muscles acquire their power by habit ; their
motions are at first automatic, and become voluntary

FIFTH DAY.

INSTINCTS.

associations, so that a child

by

he learns to swim or write

13*

must learn

walk as

to

* but in the colt or

chicken,

the limbs are formed with the powers of motion;

and these animals walk

the

womb

PEYS.

as

soon as they have quitted

or the egg.

believe

it

possible that they

may have

acquired these powers of motion in the

embryo state ;
and I think I have observed, that birds learn to fly,
and acquire the use of their wings, by continued
efforts, in the same manner as a child does that of
his limbs.

ORN.

cannot agree with you; the legs of the

foetus are folded

up

in the

womb

mare ; and

of the

neither the colt nor the chicken can ever have per-

any motions of their legs

similar to those which they have perfectly at their

formed, in the embryo

command when

born.

state,

birds cannot fly as

Young

soon as they are hatched, because they have no wing

feathers ; but as soon as these are developed, and

even before they are perfectly strong, they use their

wings, fly, and quit their nests without any education

from their parents.

*

[But

it

cries

Compare a young

when

and sucks, and each with as perfect effect, at the

weeks after, its organs at the time of

instant of birth, as days or

Vtirth,

quail,

being sufficiently developed for these

the mother's regards, the other to support

its

life.

needs,

Both

one

acts

to excite

may

perhaps
be considered instinctive, being complete without teaching or thought ;
and so in accordance with the reasoning in the text. J.D.]

SALMONIA.

133

few days

old,

[fifth day.

with a child of as

many months

runs, seeks his food, avoids danger,

flies,

the call of his mother;

whilst a child

he

and obeys

is

perfectly

few voluntary motions;

helpless, and can perform
and
can neither stand nor
has barely learnt to grasp,
walk.

But

to see the

contrasted with

most perfect instance of

instinct,

look

at
knowledge,
soon as they are
excluded from the egg, they run round their mother,
nestle in her feathers, and obey her call, without educa-

as

common

tion

acquired

domestic poultry

she leads

them

to

as

some spot where there

is soft

earth or dung, and instantly begins scratching with

her feet ; the chickens watch her motions with the

utmost attention ;

if

an earth-worm or larva

up, they instantly seize

is

turned

it, but they avoid

and though the hen

and devour

eating sticks, grass, or straws

shows them the example of picking up grain, they do

not imitate her in this respect, but for some days
of ants, to a barley-corn.
prefer ants, or the larvae
have heard the cluck of their mother in the

They may
q^, and having felt the warmth
able, so

you may

of her feathers agree-

consider, Physicus, their collecting

under her wings, and obeying her call, as an acquired

habit.
But I will mention another circumstance,
where habit or education
question.

is

entirely

out

of

Does the mother see the shadow of a

on the ground,

or hear his scream in the

air,

the
kite

she

INSTINCTS.

KfFTH DAT.]

139

instantly utters a shrill suppressed cry

the chickens,

though born that day, and searching round her with

feet were
glee and animation for the food which her
providing for them, instantly appear as if thunderstruck; those close to her crouch down and hide

themselves in the straw;

those further

without

off,

moving from the place, remain prostrate ; the hen

looks upward with a watchful eye; nor do they
resume their feeding till they have been called again
bv the cluck of
danger

their mother,

and warned that the

over.

is

certainly cannot explain the acquaintance

of the little

animals with the note of alarm of the

PHYS.

mother, except upon the principle you have adopted

and I

of animal food
fairly own, that their selection

appears likewise instinctive

tins selection

yet

it is

may depend upon some

possible, that

analogy between

the smell of these animal matters and the yolk, winch

was for a long time their food in the egg.

ORN.
I find I must multiply examples.

Examine

young ducks which have been hatched under a hen

they no sooner quit the shell, than they fly to their
:

natural element,

the water, in

spite

of

anxiety and terror of their foster-parent,

the

who

great

in vain

repeats that sound to which her natural children are

Being in the water, they seize insects of

every kind, winch they can only know from their

so obedient.

SALMONIA.

1^0

[FIFTH DAY.

be good for food;

instincts to

and when they are

hatched in the May-fly season,
they pursne these
large ephemerae with the greatest avidity, and make

them

their favourite food.

It

to explain these facts,

except

depend upon

impossible, I think,

by supposing, that they

or

feelings

is

desires

in

the

animals

developed with their organs, which are not acquired,

and which are absolutely

another instance.

the interior of Ceylon

I will mention

instinctive.

friend of

mine was

travelling; in

on the shore of a lake he saw

some fragments of shells of the eggs of the

and heard a subterraneous sound his
:

excited,

and he was induced

surface of

the sand:

to

eggs which were

of them,

its

friend touched

and

it

bit

made towards

with a stick,
the

stick

it

Here

knowledge

was

young

he found several
shell of

one

forth, apparently

functions and motions

and when

my

assumed a threatening

with violence;

and

though born by

it

the

sunbeams on the burning sand,

seemed to know was

domain.

or three

he broke the

the water, which,

influence of the
it

entire

shell,

when a young alligator came

perfect in all

aspect,

still

curiosity

search beneath the

besides two

animals lately come from the

alligator,

its

natural

and hereditary

an animal which, deserted by its

and
parents,
entirely submitted to the mercy of nature
and the elements, must die if it had to
its
is

acquire

but

all its

powers are given,

all its

wants

[NSTINCTS.

FIFTH DAY.]

supplied

arid

even

its

means of

141

offence

and defence

I will
implanted by strong and perfect instincts.
mention one fact more.
Swallows, quails, and many
other birds migrate in large flocks

food becomes scarce

said,

anticipate a

when

their usual

and in these cases

it

Physicus,

remark of

may be

that the

and that the

phenomenon depends upon

young birds follow the old ones, who have before
made the same flight. But I will select the young
imitation,

cuckoo

an

for

unexceptionable

instinctive nature of this quality.

example

He

of

the

is

produced
from an egg deposited by his mother in the nest of
another
destroys

bird,
all

generally

the

hedge-sparrow.

He

the other young ones hatched in the same

nest,

and

after

he has deprived her of all her natural offspring.

solitary, he is no sooner able to fly than he

is

supplied with food by his foster-parent,

Quite

quits the country of his birth,

and

finds his way, with

no other guide than his instinct, to a land where his

parents had gone many weeks before him ; and he is
this migration by want of food,
and grains on which he feeds are still
The whole history of the origin, education,

not pressed to

make

for the insects

abundant.

and migration of
a

succession

because in
of nature.

of

many

this singular animal, is a history of

instincts,

the

more remarkable,

respects contrary to the usual order

SALMON] A.

142

PHYS.

[fifth day.

I have been accustomed to refer

many

of

the supposed instincts of animals, such as

migrations,

building nests, and selection of food, to imitation;

but, I confess, I cannot explain the last fact

brought forward on this principle,

let

me

state

may not

Pray, Ornither,
that

we

the meaning of language.

your view, as I understand

differ as to

you have

it,

conclude you adopt Hartley's view of association, that

the motions of the muscles in man are first automatic,

and become voluntary by association ; and that reason

is

the application of voluntary motions for a particular

end.

Tor instance

bringing

its

a child

hand near the

is

not afraid of

fire,

it is

fire,

but,

burnt, and the

convulsions of the muscles produced by the pain end

in removing the

hand from the source of

These

pain.

motions by association are made voluntary ; and after

tins experiment he avoids the fire
by reason, and takes

remove

care always to perform those motions which

his

limbs

from

destructive

this

agent.

But

in

contrasting instinct with this slow process, you would

most animals, without having felt the effects of

it ; and in the same
fire,
way,
without having been taught, or experienced pleasure
say,

have an innate dread of

or pain from the object,

young ducks seek the

water,

young chickens avoid

have a

fitness

it

their organs

or unfitness for certain functions, and they use

for these functions without education.

them

In short, the

INSTINCTS.

FIFTH DAY.]

instinctive application of the

143

organ

is

independent of

experience, and forms part of a train of pure sensations.

ORN.

make

of

I have no objection to the statement you

my

view of the subject;

should give to

it

little

but I certainly

more refinement and gene-

rality.

In

cerned,

but never in those of instinct.

memory

the results of reason, ideas are con-

all

there can

be no reason;

Without

but in instinct

nothing can be traced but pure sensation.

POIET. Though in the animal world no ideas

seem

connected

with

instincts,

yet

they are

all

intended for specific and intelligent ends.

Thus the
swallow travels to a country where flies are found ; the

salmon migrates from the sea to the sources of fresh

rivers, where its eggs may receive a supply of aerated
water, and without this migration the race would be
extinct

and in

this

way

all

the instincts of animals

may be referred to intelligence, which, though not

belonging to the animal, must be attributed to the
Divine

Mind.

Is

it

not then reasonable to

refer

immediate impulse of the Author of

Nature upon his creatures ? His omnipresence and
omnipoteuce cannot be doubted, and to the Infinite

instinct to the

Mind

the past, the present, and the future are alike

and creative and conservative power must equally

belong to

HAL,

it.

That

instincts

depend upon impulses imme-

SALMOXIA.

144

[fifth day.

from the Deity is an opinion which,

not
perhaps cannot be confuted, yet does

diatelj derived
it

though
please

me

much

so

as to believe

them dependent upon

the formation of organs, and the result of the general

laws winch govern the system of the universe ; and
it is

in favour of this opinion that they are susceptible

of modifications.

Thus,

they are always changed

domesticated animals

in

the turkey and the duck

lose their habits of constructing nests,

and the goose

In supposing them the result

does not migrate.
be
of
organisation and hereditary, they might
changed by circumstances, as
Without referring
to be.
found
they are actually
the instincts of animals to the immediate impulse of
be

to

expected

they appear to

the Deity,

me

to

the

offer

most

irresistible and convincing argument that can be

brought forward against atheism. Thev demonstrate

combinations, the result of the most refined intelligence,

which can only be considered as

Take any one

of the lowest class of

instance, not only

their wants,
for,

is

their organisation fitted to all

but their association in society

and the laws of a perfect

social

were, are adopted by beings that

reason.

infinite.

animals, insects for

In the hive bee,

we

is

provided

community,

as it

are sure cannot

for instance, the instinct of

the workers leads them to adopt and obey a queen

and

if

she

is

taken away from them, or

dies,

they have

FIFTH DAY.

INSTINCTS.

145

the power of raising another from offspring in the cells

by an almost miraculous process

her government for a

common

only to exist for a specific

they work under

society,

males

purpose and limited time

and, under the government of females

the

allow

object,

they send forth

who

preserve

swarms, which readily

place themselves under the protection of man.

In

the geometrical construction of their cells, the secretion

of

wax from

their bodies, the collecting their food,

the care of the brood, there

it

is

a series of results

requires a strong reason to follow,

and

which

and which are

the consequences of invariable instincts.

Bees, since

they have been noticed by naturalists, have the same

and

habits,

as

many thousand

it

is

probable that

there have

been

of generations since the creation,

evident that the instincts of the

first

it is

bees have been

hereditary and invariable in their offspring; and

it

cannot be doubted, that they do now, as they did four

thousand years ago, make some

cells in

combs

larger

than others for the purpose of containing the eggs

and future grubs of drones, that are to be produced by
a grub,

which they are educating

and that these

cells

laws

by a
of

cells are

series, in

for a

queen bee

connected with the

common

which the most exact geometrical

are
observed.
An eminent

transition

philosopher has deduced an argument in favour of

the existence of Deity from the analogy of the universe

U6

SALMONIA.

to a piece of

FIFTH DAY

mechanism, which could only be the work

of an intelligent

mind ; but

there

is

this difference

in all the productions of nature, the principle, not

only

of perfection, but likewise of conservation, is found,

marking a

species of intelligence

and power which can

be compared to nothing human.

swarm

The

first

created

of bees contained beings provided with all the

instincts necessary for the perpetual

the species

and some of these

continuance of

instincts can scarcely

be understood by man, requiring the most profound

geometrical knowledge, even to calculate their results

and other

instincts involve

what in human society

would be the most singular state of policy, combining

moral causes and contradictory interests.

contrasted,

It is impossible not to be lost in

tion of this chain of facts

awe

the

at the contempla-

human mind cannot

acknowledge in them the strongest proofs of

their being produced by infinite wisdom and unbounded
fail

to

power

and the devout philosopher can scarcely avoid

considering with respect a

little insect,

endowed with

producing combinations, which, human reason

vainly attempts to imitate, and. can scarcely understand.
PHYS. I agree with you, that if instinct be supposed
faculties

the result of organisation, and that the

first

animal

types were so created as to transmit their instincts

invariably generation after generation,

it

does offer a

most triumphant and incontrovertible argument

for

1XSTIXCTS.

FIFTH DAT.]

147

an ail-powerful intelligent Cause.

Even in the instance which led to this conversation,

the existence of

the instinct which carries salmon from the sea to

the

only lately philosophers have

discovered, that the impregnated eggs cannot produce
sources of rivers,

young

it is

independent of the iufluence of air ; and

many hundred miles under the

fishes

thus an animal goes

direction of an instinct, the use of

has at length developed, and

winch human reason

man

is

supplied with an

abundant food by the result of a combination, in

consequence of which a species is preserved.
POIET.
I do not understand, Halieus, your

objections to

the

view

have

adopted,

which

is

sanctioned by the authority of a good ethic philosopher,

Allowing the omnipresence and constant

power of Deity, I do not see how you can avoid
Addison.

admitting

Iris

actual interference in

all

the

phenomena

of living nature.

HAL.
but,

As

upon

I said before, I cannot confute your view

tins principle, gravitation

the planets round the sun, and

phenomena

of the universe,

all

and the motion of

the other physical

would be owing

to

the

I prefer the view,

immediate action of the Divinity.
which refers them to motion and properties, the results
of general laws impressed

This view

is,

on matter by Omnipotence.

I think, simpler

but

it

is

difficult

to

form any distinct opinion on so high and incomprehenL 2

SALM0N1A.

148

sible a subject

[fifth day.

on which, perhaps, after all, it is wiser

and to bow down in

to confess our entire ignorance,

humble adoration

Cause

to the one incomprehensible

of all being.

POIET.
I

still

I agree with you

adhere to

my own view

in your last sentence

;

and I hope you

but

will not

object to a favourite opinion of mine, that instincts

what revelation

are to animals

is

to

man, intended

to

supply wants in their physical constitution, which in

man are provided for by reason ; and that revelation
is

to

him

cannot

as

his

an

instinct, teaching

him what reason

duties, the undying nature of

and the relations of Iris conduct

religious

his intellectual part,

and misery.
"Davus sum, non (Edipus."

to eternal happiness

HAL

think I
to

may say,

but I

that all the instincts of animals

be connected with pleasure or

utility

not

will

attempt to discuss this view of yours, Poietes

and in

seem

man

the feeling of love and the gratifying the appetites

which approach nearest to instincts, are likewise highly

delightful; and perhaps there is no more pleasurable
state of
belief,

better

it

the

human mind than when, with

looks

state

of

forward to
existence,

intense

another world and to a

or

is

absorbed in

adoration of the supreme and eternal Intelligence.

the

The Teme.

T^f

'--

Grounds of Dowiiton, from a sketch hy Mrs Stackhouse Acton. See Page

\','o.

SIXTH DAY.
HA LIE USP OIETES ORXITHER PH YSICUS.
Morning.

HAL.

"Well

met, ray friends

a

morning,
excellent

order for fishing

is

it

fresh breeze,

there

behaviour yesterday will

a fine

is

the

pool

in

and I trust our good

ensure

us

sport

There must be a great many fresh run

and

warm

river is

after twenty-four hours' rest,

fish

to-day.
in the

some of those

that were indisposed to take on Saturday evening,

may have

acquired appetite.

Prepare your tackle,

SALMONIA.

150

[sixth day.

and begin; but whilst you are preparing, I will

mention a circumstance which every accomplished

You changed your flies on

with
the
change of weather, putting the
Saturday

fly-fisher

dark
the

ought to know.

on

flies

when

flies

gaudy

Now,

I will

gleams of the sun, and

the dark clouds appeared.

for the bright

tell

you

of another principle,

which

as the

for

it is

as necessary to

know

of weather

allude to the different kinds of flv to

change of

flies

change

be used in particular pools, and even for particular

You

parts of pools.

and

have fished in this deep pool

you were to change

if

as that above, it

of the same

it

for a shallower one,

such

would be proper to use smaller flies

and in a pool still deeper,
;

colour

likewise in the

rough rapid at the top, a

larger fly may be used than below at the tail of the
water and in the Tweed or Tay, I have often changed
flies

larger

my

the same pool, and sometimes with

fly thrice in

success using

tliree different flies for

and bottom.

Lord Somerville adopt

tins fashion, I

first

saw

thought there

but experience soon proved to me

accomplished a salmon fisher was my excellent

was fancy in

how

the top, middle,

remember that when I

it

and lamented friend; and I adopted the lesson he

taught me, and with good results, in all bright
waters.

POIET.

I will try the correctness of your principle.

FLIES.

SIXTH DAT.]

Look

now on my

at the fly

recommend me
HAL.

to cast

It is a large

151

line

gaudy

fly,

and

of this pool, except the extremely

torrent

where would you

it ?

is fit

no part

for

rough head of the

there, I dare say, it will take in this state of

the waters.

POIET.
is off;

Good, I hooked a

large

but

fish,

alas

he

yet I thought he was fairly caught.

HAL.

The

moment you

hook, I think, turned round at the

struck,

and carried

off

some

scales

from

the outside of his mouth.

POIET.
hook.
almost

You

are right

see,

the scales are on the

cannot raise another fish;

I have tried

I thought I saw a fish rise

over the pool.

all

at the tail of the rapid.

HAL.

You

did

a fly one third of the size

I think you will hook that

POIET.
fine fish

HAL.

Now

put on
and of the same colour, and

he refused the

fly.

fish.

have done so

and he

is

fast

and

I think a salmon.

a salmon;

It is

Play him with

care,

and one above 10

and do not

let

him run

lbs.

into the

rough part of the stream, where the large stones

are.

POIET.

It

is,

I think, the most active fish I have

yet played with.

making

for the sea.

See

how high he

leaps

He

is

SALMONIA.

152

Hold him
POIET. Pear me
HAL.

tight, or

you

You

but of the rod, and his force

You

I show

him the

counterpoised by a

He

is

He has
HAL. You

angry at his

But he has made

do well.

spring, and, I fear,

mine.

is

see,

lever.

very long

POIET.

him.

will lose

I trust, in spite of his

not.

strength, I shall turn him.

HAL.

[sixth day.

a violent

is off.

but not, I think, by any fault of

carried off something.

played that fish so well, that I

Either the hook, link, or

loss.

am

line,

failed you.

POIET.

It

is

the hook, which you see

is

broken,

and not merely at the barb, but likewise in the shank.

What a fool I was ever to use one of these London or

Birmingham -made hooks.

HAL. The tiling has happened

now never use any hooks

those which 1

am

for

to

salmon

me

often.

fishing, except

made by O^Shaugheven those made in Dublin,

sure have been

nessy, of Limerick

for

though they seldom break, yet they now and then

bend and the English hooks, made of cast steel in
:

imitation of Irish ones, are the worst of

all.

There

is a fly nearly of the same colour as that which

made
destroyed ; and I can tell you, that I saw it

is

at

Limerick by O'Shaughnessy himself, and tied on one

Should you catch with it a fish
of his own hooks.

HOOKS.

SIXTH DAY.]

even of 30

I will answer for

lbs.

temper
POIET. Whilst
to

kindly made,

am

my

when

in this subject

Most

attaching your present, so

know yon

me how

I have even
inferior

little

in

to find

kind

The

first

made

form,

boast of as
respects, I think, I could

Limerick ones.

these

interested yourself

at Limerick.

willingly.

though a

tell

pray

line,

hooks are made, for I

which,

strength and

its

will neither break nor bend.

it

HAL.

153

requisite in

in

hook
other

equal to the

hook-making

is

good malleable iron of the softest and purest

such as is procured from the nails of old
This must be converted by cementation

horse-shoes.

with charcoal into good soft

or wires

different

of

steel,

hooks, and then annealed.

the bars must be
cutting the barbs

two hooks,

is

made
;

and that into bars

thickness for

different

Tor the

sized

larger hooks,

in such a form as to admit of

and each

piece,

winch serves

for

so that the bar

larger at the ends,

appears in the form of a double pointed spear, three,

the bars for the finer hooks
four, or five inches long
:

are

somewhat

flattened.

The

artist

works with two

than the other for giving the point

files,
and polishing the hook; and he begins by making
the barb, taking care not to cut too deep and filing
one

finer

on a piece of hard wood, such

dent to receive the bar,

as

box wood, with a

made by the edge

of the

file.

SALMONIA.

154

[sixth day.

The barb being made, the shank

flattened, and the polishing

of the wrist

a turn

file

round a

necessary degree of curvature

hook

is

thinned and

applied to
circular
is

it

and by

pincers,

given to

it.

the

The

then cut from the bar, heated red hot by

being kept for a moment in a charcoal fire; then
plunged, while hot, into cold water ; then tempered,
is

by being put on iron, that has been heated in the

same fire till it becomes a bright blue, and, whilst
still

hot,

is

it

immersed in candle-grease, where

gains a black colour ;

PHYS.

it is

Nothing seems

London might

Surely

easy a manipulation
friends,

who

is

it

then finished.
simpler than this process.

furnish manufacturers for so

and I should think one of our

so admirable a cutler,

might even

improve upon the Irish process ; at least the tempering might be more scientifically arranged; for
instance, by the thermometer and a bath of fusible
metal, the temperature at which steel becomes blue

being 580

HAL.
with

Fall.,

Habit

sufficient

might be constantly preserved.

teaches our Irish artists this point
precision.

We

should

have such

hooks in England, but the object of the fishing

tackle makers is to obtain them cheap, and most of
their

hooks are made to

sell,

and good hooks cannot

be sold but at a good price.

POIET. I have heard formerly

good angler

HOOKS.

SIXTH DAY.]

155

complain, that the Limerick hooks were too heavy

He

and clumsy.

preferred hooks

made

at

Kendal

in

Westmoreland.

HAL.

I saw, twenty

heavy made

at

years

ago,

hooks

far

too

Limerick; but this O'Shaughnessy is,

maker than his father was, and the

I think, a better

curve and the general form of the hook

It has now, I think, nearly the best

is

improved.

form of a curve

and holding, the point protruding a

The Kendal hook holds well, but is not so

for catching
little.

by the pull

readily fixed

in the

mouth

of the

fish.

The

early Fellows of the Eoyal Society, who attended

to all the useful and common arts, even improved
fish

that

hooks

and Prince Eupert, an

illustrious body,

active

member

of

taught the art of tempering

hooks to a person of the name of Kirby ; under

whose name, for more than a century, very good
hooks were

sold.

I shall take a walk towards the

lake to enjoy a view of its cloud-capped mountains,

and I hope to find, on my return, that you have all

had your satisfaction in a good day's salmon fishing.
PHYS. We shall crimp and cool a salmon if we

catch a good one, for our dinner.

Do
ORN. But

HAL.

so.

before you leave us, I wish you would

be good enough to inform us

are so

different

why

the salmon here

from those I have seen elsewhere

SALMOJSTIA.

156

[sixth day.

some caught in the Alness, in Rosshire,

which we saw in passing round the south coast of
Ross.
These appear to me thicker and brighter fish,
for instance,

and one that I measured was 30 inches long, and 17

in circumference.

HAL.

I think I have seen broader fish than even

those of this river

to

remember

but the salmon which you happen

for

comparison, belonged to a

small

stream, which, I think, in general are thinner and

longer

than

those

in

great

rivers

and what I

mentioned on a former occasion with respect to trout

holds good likewise with regard to salmon ; each
river has a distinct kind.

It

is

scarcely possible to

doubt, that the varieties of the salmon, which haunt

the sea, come to the same rivers to breed in which

they were born, or where they have spawned before.*

[

* This

is

the

also

conviction

of

Mr.

Young,

the

most

experienced of the experienced in matters relating to the salmon.

In his " Natural History of the Salmon," he gives a remarkable

"

instance in proof.

We

the same estuary, and

particular salmon,

know

all

and the

(he says) of five rivers which run into

and each of these rivers have their own

fish differ so

that they are quite easily distinguished.

into the estuary of

average weight

scaled,
is

The

the one from the other,

first

river

which

falls

which we speak, has a race of well-shaped salmon,

whose average weight

strong, coarse

much

is

about ten pounds ; the second river has a

but very hardy salmon, whose

rather long,

about

seventeen pounds

the third river has a

middling shaped salmon, whose average weight is about nine pounds

the fourth river has long, ill-shaped salmon, averaging about eight
and the fifth river has a very well-shaped salmon, whose
pounds
;

SEXSES OF FISH.

sixth day.]

And

157

could hardly happen unless they confined

their migrations to a certain space in the sea, the
this

regarded as the shore

may be

boundaries of which

and the deep water, which may be considered as

for fish do not
effectual a limit almost as land;
willingly

haunt very deep water, that being even in

summer

of low

approaching to

temperature,

40,

and containing little or no vegetable food or insects,

which the smaller fishes search for, and the larger
It

fishes follow the smaller.

in winter,

all fish

deeper than in

is

however

possible, that

fond of heat will seek water rather

summer

and charr and umbla in lakes

found in the deepest parts, being fond of

and they come to spawn whenever the

are usually
cool water,

shallow water of the lakes becomes cool, in October

or

We

November.

cannot judge of the senses of

animals that breathe water,

water by their

gills

but

the quality of the water

is

that separate air from

seems probable, that, as

it

connected with their

life

and health, they must be exquisitely sensible to

relations to
changes in water, and must have similar
it

that

an animal

organs has to
average weight

indeed for a

way

to its

is

fish

own

air.

with

the

nasal

delicate

vulture or a dog scents not

fully fourteen pounds."

returning through the

river,

most

even when

first

He

adds, that

common

it

is

rare

estuary, to miss

returning as a

grilse,

favour of the explanation given by the author of the occurrence.

its

fact in

J.D.]

SALMONIA.

153

[sixth day.

only particular food and particular game at great

distances, but even makes of the smell a kiDd of

and I doubt

language;

not, that

when

dogs, that

have been blmdfolded and carried away from their

home, return to

them each town,

scent.

in

lane,

case has been related to

basket

covered

distance

by the sense of smelling, to

or held, must have a particular

it, it is

of

45

travelled before,

of a

Badula

from

miles,

me

over

to

dog carried

Kandv,

road he had never

and who returned

from

to the spot

which he was taken in 24 hours, through the wildest

And

parts of the mountainous district of Ceylon.

have seen even a blind horse, an animal in which the

sense of smelling

by

it

to

Iris

is less

acute, evidently find his

way

master's house and stable, which was,

indeed, near a tan-yard.

The

state of parts of water,

in the sea or great lakes, produced by the impregnacarried down by particular streams,
more permanent than a like state in air;
tions

much

is

so

though the knowledge given by the nasal organs

be more

easily

communicated

at a distance

that

may

by winds,

by streams on the branchiae of

invariable, and a migratory fish is less

yet that produced

fishes is

more

likely to

be deceived.

connected with
waters near
their

river.

the

storms,
shore,

Yet in great
or

floods,

violent motion

in

often

the

salmon sometimes mistake

I remember in this way, owing to a

STRA Y SALMON.

sixth day.j

tremendous

flood,

159

with the

catching

fly

large

salmon, that had mistaken his river, having come

into the Bush, near the Giant's Causeway, instead of

No

the Bann.

fish

can be more distinct in the same

species than the fish of these

two

rivers, their

20

to their girth being nearly in a ratio of

20

13.*

I am going;

good

length

9 and

sport to you.

EVENING.

HAL.
sport,

am

for I

sure I

see

may

congratulate you on your

on the bank a

fine

salmon, three

grauls or grilses, and three large sea trout.

ORN.

two

You have not seen

we have crimped
one a
the
and
salmon,
all,

fish

for

other a trout

large

almost a yard long, and both in excellent season.

sport, and sport even of a kind

ATe have had great

*

A striking example of a migratory fish losing

its way, came to my

was assured there by a gentleman, who had
made Icthyology a special study, that he once saw a salmon, brought
for sale into the market of Valetta, which had been caught in the sea
[

knowledge

in Malta.

Now, as there are no rivers flowing into the

washing tbat island.
Mediterranean resorted to by this fish for breeding in, it may be
inferred, tbat the fish in question

was a stray one that had

current from the ocean flowing through the

similar accidents

with the ocean,

lost its

way

and had entered the Mediterranean by mistake in the

in the Atlantic,

it is

fit

easy to comprehend

by the

how

qualities of their

Gut

of Gibraltar.

all rivers

By

communicating
waters, may become the

habitual resort and breeding streams of migratory fish.

J.D.]

SALMONIA.

160

which you

will not guess at

[sixth day.

when

for,

fahing, the fish ceased to rise at the

of trying
tackle,

them with a

bait

so

we

fly,

the tide was

and I thought

sent for our swivel

and put parr or samlet on our hooks,

bait for pike

as

we

cutting off one ventral fin on one side,

and one pectoral

parr spin in the

runs from

fish,

fin on the other; and

making the
most rapid streams, we had several
and it was in this way that Poietes

caught this large sea trout, winch gave excellent sport.

SAL. This kind of
I
fishing is not uncommon.

have often caught salmon in the

Tay, fishing with
parrs ; but though the fish ran at the bait, when

they

would not

rise at the
fly while the tide

was ebbing,
would
have
taken the parr better still while it was
they
flowing.

PEYS.

Prom my

salmon has habits

think the
artificial

HAL.

fish

fly

T
experience to-da} , I conclude the

different

winch broke

from the trout;

my hook

in the same place.

think

vou are mistaken.

Salmon

usually shyer even than trout, and I never

in this season, that
rise

for I

rose again at the

are

knew one

had been pricked even slightly,

same pool. I

again at the artificial fly in the

should say, that their habits are precisely the same,

but with more sagacity on the side of the salmon.
It

must have been another

the same place.

fish that rose at

your

fly

in

After such severe discipline, I do

SALMON.

S!XTH DAT.]

not think a

fish

would

rise for

161

many

hours, even at a

natural bait.

POIET.

Your

experience

I was mistaken, yet

HAL.

Salmon

it

is

so great, that I dare say

seemed a fLh of the same

often

in

season

this

size.

haunt the

streams in pairs; but so far from rising again after

being pricked, they appear to me to learn, when they

have been some time in the river, that the artificial fly
is

not food, even without having been touched by the

In the river at Galway, in Ireland, I have

hook.

seen above the bridge some hundreds of salmon lying

in

streams, and

rapid

from

five to

fishermen

ten

tempting them with every variety of fly, but in vain.

After a fish had been thrown over a few times, and
risen once or twice

and refused the

took any notice of

it

fly,

lie

rarely ever

again in that place.

It

was

generally nearest the tide that fish were taken, and the
place next the sea was the

the most coveted;

most successful stand, and

and when the water is low and

clear in this river, the

Galway fishermen resort to the

naked hook, endeavouring to

practice of fishing with a

entangle

it

in the bodies of the fish

a most

unartist-

In spring fishing, I have known a

half-starved
salmon rise at the artificial fly a
hungry,

like practice.

second time, after having been very slightly touched

by it; but even this rarely happens, and when I have
seen

it,

the water has been coloured.

SALMONIA.

162

PHYS.

Can you

tell

us

why

[sixth day.

the fish rise better at

the fly when the tide is flowing, than when it is ebbing ?

There seems no reason why flies should be sought for
by the fish at one of these seasons, rather than at

the other.

HAL.

The turn

of the salt water brings up aquatic

and
insects,
perhaps small fish ; and I suppose salmon
know this, and search for food at a time when it is

I cannot think, that in these

be found.

likely to

the look-out for flies, for there

pools they can be on
surface of the water ; and I
on
the
are never any

imagine they take the gaudy

fisher

fly,

and golden pheasant's

with

blue king-

its

feathers,

for a

small

fish.

ORN.

I have

always supposed, that they took

for a libellula, or dragon-fly

or taken

flies

a fish;

by

and salmon sometimes

the salt water, where dragon-flies

There

is

no

but

fish,

flies,

flies,

often most successful.

have

flies

in
are

lain long in pools

flies,

will

and then even a

I

even in

why salmon

where natural

when they have

in the river and fed on natural

take these bright

rise

are never found.

difficulty in explaining

inland rivers should take

abundant

it

have often seen

for I

haunting the water.

I never saw a dragon-fly drop on the water,

these brilliant

HAL.

no longer
trout-fly is

sometimes thought

that the rising of salmon and sea trout at these bright

INDICATIONS OF RAIN.

s.xTHDAY.l

16

soon as they come from the sea into

Hies, as

rivers,

might depend upon a sort of imperfect memory of

for flies form a great
their early food and habits
;

part

of the food of the

salmon

migrating to the sea, feed like

their

principal

nourishment

fresh water, they

may

feeding recalled to

fry,

before

which,

are
young
back
in
to
and
going

trouts

flies

perhaps have their habits of

them, and naturally search for

their food at the surface.

P01ET-

This appears

me

to

very probable.

But

and we must return and compare the crimped

and I hope we shall have another
;

it is late,

trout and salmon

good day to-morrow, for the clouds

PHYS. I have no doubt of it,

are red in the west.

for the red has a

tint of purple.

HAL.

Do

weather

this tint portends fine

PHYS.
more

you know why

The

red,

air,

when

dry,

or heat-making, rays

refracts

believe,

and

as dry air

is

not perfectly transparent, they are again reflected in

the horizon.

I have generally observed a coppery or

yellow sunset to foretel rain

but, as an indication of

wet weather approaching, nothing

than a halo round the moon, which

is

more

certain

is
produced by
and the larger the circle, the
nearer the clouds, and consequently the more ready

the precipitated water

to fall.

SALMONIA.

164

HAL.
is

correct

[sixth day.

I have often observed, that the old

proverb

rainbow in the morning is the shepherd's earning:

rainbow at night is the shepherd's delight.

Can you explain this omen ?

PHYS. A rainbow can only occur when the clouds

containing, or depositing, the rain are opposite to the

sun,

and

in the evening the rainbow is in the east,

and in the morning in the west

rains,

in this climate,

are

and as our heavy

usually brought by the

westerly wind, a rainbow in the west indicates, that

the bad weather

is

on the road, by the wind,

to us

whereas the rainbow in the east proves, that the rain

in these clouds

POIET.

swallows

passing from us.

have

often

observed, that

high, fine weather

fly

continued

is

is

when

the

to be expected or

but when they fly low, and close to the

is almost
Can you
surely approaching.

ground, rain

account for this

Swallows

HAL.

follow the

flies

and gnats, and

and gnats usually delight in warm strata of air ;

and as warm air is lighter, and usually moister, than

flies

cold

air,

is less

when the warm

strata of air are high, there

chance of moisture being thrown down from

them by the mixture with cold air ; but when the

warm and moist air is close to the surface, it is

OMENS.

SIXTH DAY.]

almost certain, that, as the cold

165

air flows

down

into

a deposition of water will take place.

it,

POTET.

I have often seen sea-gulls

assemble on

the land, and have almost alwaj^s observed, that then

I
very stormy and rainy weather was approaching.
conclude, that these birds, sensible of a current of
flowing from

air

the

shelter themselves

ORN.

No such

and the
living

little

thing.

on the smaller sea

him

to

The storm

their element

is

petrel enjoys the heaviest gale, because,

his food in the spray of a

see

land

ocean, retire to the

from the storm.

flitting

insects,

he

sure to find

is

heavy wave and you may

above the edge of the highest surge.

believe, that the reason of this migration of sea-

gulls,

and other sea

birds,

to

the

their

is

land,

They may be observed, at

feeding greedily on the earth worms and

security of finding food.

tins time,

driven out of the ground by severe floods

larvae,

and the

on which they prey in

fish,

the sea, leave the surface,

The search

go deeper.

former occasion,

is

fine

when storms

after food, as

The

change

their

wading

birds always migrate

places.

different

when

prevail

and

we agreed on

the principal cause

why
is

animals
of

tribes

rain

weather in

the

about to

and I remember once, in Italy, having

been long waiting, in the end of March, for the
take place

arrival of the double snipe in the

Campagna

of

Rome,

SALM0N1A.

166

[six day.

a great flight appeared on the 3rd of April, and

the day after heavy rain set

fered with

my

which greatly

in,

The

sport.*

principle, follows armies

inter-

the same

vulture, upon
and I have no doubt, that

the augury of the ancients was a good deal founded

upon the observation

the

of

of

instincts

birds.

There are many superstitions of the vulgar owing to

the same source.
For anglers, in spring, it is always

unlucky to see single magpies,

always

regarded

reason

is,

that

as

in

but

may be

two

omen

favourable

and the

and stormy weather one

cold

magpie alone leaves the nest in search of food, the

upon the eggs or the young

but when two go out together, the weather is
and mild, and thus favourable for fishing.

other remaining sitting

ones

warm

POIET.

The

to

effects,

singular connexions of

which
less

superstition

you

have

just

be wondered

to

causes and

referred,
at,

make

particularly

amongst the vulgar ; and when two facts, naturally

unconnected, have been accidentally coincident, it is
not singular that this coincidence should have been
*

[The

snipe

is

common

from one side of the island

in

Ceylon, and throughout the year, passing

with the change of monsoon,

to the other,

monsoon, which, on one side, is accompanied by the rainy

on the other bringing in the dry season
thus affording a

that

season,

striking

example of migration

mated

in

human

race and the brute, and

one

the

text,

in

connection with the cause, as

cause which

may

seems

inti-

to influence equally the

be held to be the general motive

any other being the exception, rather than the

rule.

J.

D.J

OMENS.

SIXTH DAY.]

167

observed and registered, and that omens of the most

In the west of
absurd kind should be trusted in.
half

England,

a century ago,

particular

hollow

noise on the sea coast was referred to a spirit or

and was supposed to foretel a

the philosopher knows, that sound travels

goblin, called Bucca,

shipwreck

much

faster

than currents in the

air

and

the sound

always foretold the approach of a very heavy storm,

which seldom takes place on that wild and rocky

coast, surrounded as it is by the Atlantic, without a
shipwreck on some part of

PHYS.

All

the

extensive shores.

its

instances

of

omens

mentioned are founded on reason

you explain such

absurdities

as

you have

but how can

Friday being an

unlucky day, the terror of spilling salt, or meeting

an old woman ? I knew a man, of very high dignity,

who was

exceedingly

moved by

these

who never went out shooting without

fastened to his buttonhole

omens

and

a bittern's claw

by a riband, which he

thought ensured him good luck.

POIET. These, as well as the omens of death-

&c, are, for the most part, founded

coincidences ; but spilling of
some
accidental
upon
salt, on an uncommon occasion, may, as I have known
watches, dreams,

from a disposition to apoplexy, shown by an

incipient numbness in the hand, and may be a fatal
it,

arise

symptom;

and persons,

dispirited

by bad omens,

SALMOXIA.

168

sometimes prepare the way for

confidence in success

The dream

is

a great

of Brutus,

the

battle.

illustrious sportsman,

of

species

despondency, which, was

losing

evil

means

fortune;

for

of ensuring

it.

before the field of

Philippi,

probably produced

LSIXTH DAT.

and

irresolution

the principal cause of his

And I have
to whom you

that

heard,

the

referred just now,

was always observed to shoot ill, because he shot

carelessly, after one of his dispiriting omens.

HAL
1

found

I have in

it

life

met with a few

coincidences or bv natural connexions

known minds
them

things,

winch

impossible to explain, either by chance

of

a very superior

and I have

class

affected

by

persons in the habit of reasoning deeply and

profoundly.

PHYS.
most

In

my

opinion, profound minds

reason;

it

is

the pert

superficial

thinker

human
who

generally strongest in every kind of unbelief.

deep philosopher sees chains of causes and

the

are

likely to think lightly of the resources of

effects so

wonderfully and strangely linked together, that he

usually the last person to decide

upon

is

The

is

the impossibility

of any two series of events being independent of each

other; and in science, so

many

natural miracles as

were, have been brought to light

such

it

as the fall of

stones from meteors in the atmosphere, the

disarming
a thunder-cloud

by

a metallic point, the

production

OMEXS.

SIXTH DA v.]

of

fire

from

ice

bv a metal white as

referring certain laws

moon,

169

of motion of the

that the physical inquirer

to assert, confidently,

is

silver,

and

sea to the

seldom disposed

on any abstruse subjects belongand still less so on

ing to the order of natural things,

those relating to the

more mysterious

moral events and intellectual natures.

relations

of

-*":

LpintwarJine on the Teme, from a sketch by Mrs. Stackhouse Actoc.

SEVENTH DAY.
HALIEUSPOIETESORNITHERPHYSICUS.

GRAYLING FISHING.
Scene

Leintwardine, near Ludlow.

Time

You have

your home
HAL.

Beginning of

October.

reached your quarters.

rural,,

peaceable,

Here

is

and unassuming inn,

may be found

with as worthy a host and hostess as

in tins part of the country.

The

river glides at the

bottom of the garden, and there

is

no stream in

GRAYLING.

SEVENTH DAY.]

England more productive

171

The surround-

of grayling.

not devoid of interest, and the grounds

in the distance are covered with stately woods, and
is

ing scenery

laid out (or rather their natural beauties developed)

by the hand of a master,* whose liberal and enlightened mind even condescended to regard the amusements

the

of

contributed

angler;

more

in

and he could hardly have

effectual manner to their

comforts, than by placing the good people,

who were

once his servants, in this comfortable inn.

PHYS.

Are we

to fish according to

quantity or size of fish

HAL.
like

You

but as

any

rule, as to

are at perfect liberty to fish as

is

it

possible

you may

you

catch grayling

and which are not longer than the

only of this year,
hand, I conclude you will return such pigmies to the
river, as a

POIET.

matter of propriety, though not of necessity.

This

river

seems formed of two other

AYhat are the

streams, which join above our inn.

names of

HAL.
Teme,
it

its

sources

The

or Little

gives

name

copious stream,
*

[The

late

president for
edition

to
is

the river

least stream,

and more

Little

Teme

Downton

Castle,

The

Esq., of

the

called

is

the other,

called the Clun.

Thomas Andrew Knight,

many

left

Teme, and though the

years of the Horticultural Society, to

of the author's

dedicated.]

small river to the

whom

"Lectures on Agricultural Chemistry

"

an

was

SALMONIA.

172

contains principally trout

grayling

but the

meadows, between

fish

[seventh day

the Clun, both trout and

are

this place

more abundant

in the

and Downton, than in

other parts of the river; for above, the stream

is

too

rapid and shallow to be favourable to their increase ;

and below, it is joined by other streams, and becomes
too abundant in coarse

POIET.

many

why

the

districts

fish in

found, I believe, only in a few rivers

it is

grayling

England. It is abundant
on the Continent ; but in this island

should be so scarce a
in

fish.

cannot understand

and does

not exist, I think, either in Ireland or Scotland.

Yet,

being an Alpine fish, and naturally fond of cool water,

it
might have been expected among the Highlands.
HAL. I formerly used to account for this, by

supposing

seen

it

it

an imported

some

but, in

of

my

fish,

and not indigenous;

continental excursions, I have

living only under such peculiar circumstances,

that I doubt the correctness of this

POIET.

Which

was,

my

conclude,

St.

Ambrose

it

its

own

sake

relinquish

As

great

it

was

a favourite fish of

was worth cultivating,

as well as for

and I think you have done wrong to

this idea,

for,

as far

serves me, the rivers that contain

of

that

when England

introduced by the monks, in the time

was under the See of Rome.

early opinion.

monasteries,

the

as
it

Avon

my

recollection

are near the ruins

near

Salisbury,

SEVENTH DAY

GRAYLING.

173

the Ure near Fountain's Abbey, the

great

Abbey

of Tintern

and,

if

Wye

am

near the

not mistaken,

in the lower part of this valley, there are the remains

of an extensive establishment of friars.

But

HAL.

there are rivers near the ruins of

some

most magnificent establishments of this kind in

Europe, and those nearest the Continent, where the
of the

grayling

is

not found

And

Canterbury.
it

is

if

wonderful, that

for instance, in the Stour,

the grayling be an imported

it

at

fish,

should not be found in the

and along the south-west coast of

in Dorsetshire, Devonshire, and Cornwall,

rivers in Kent,

England, as
where the monastic establishments were numerous

and why it should be found in some rivers in the

mountainous parts of AY ales, as in that near Llan-wrtyd

and the Dee

not near Yal Crucis Abbey, but

miles higher up, between

fifteen

Corwen and Bala.

may have been a fish imported from the

Continent, and carried to a number of rivers, only a
POIET.

few

It

which may have suited

of

its

habits,

and has

remained there and multiplied.

HAL. There may be truth in what you are

imagining, for

the

grayling

requires

circumstances in a river to enable

it

now

number

of

to increase.

What circumstances
A temperature the water which must be
moderate
Grayling
high nor too
POIET.

are these ?

HAL.

in

neither too

low.

SALMONIA.

174

are never found in streams that run

least

near their source

heat.

[seventh day.

from

and they are

glaciers

killed

at

by cold or

I once put some grayling from the Teme, in

September, with some trout, into a confined water,

from a spring in the yard at Downton; the

And in the hot
grayling all died, but the trout lived.

rising

summer

of

1825, great numbers of large grayling

died in the Avon, below Kingwood, without doubt

killed

by the heat in July.

But I have heard of

POIET.

common
HAL.

in

grayling

being

Lapland at least so says Linnaeus.

I think

it

must be another

same genus, the same

Captain Franklin and

as

species of the

Back's grayling found by

companions in North
and
America,
distinguished by a much larger back fin.
Having travelled with the fishing-rod in my hand
his

through most of the Alpine valleys in the south and

east of Europe, and some of those in Norway and
Sweden, I have always found the charr in the coldest

and highest waters ; the trout, in the brooks rising in

the highest and coldest mountains; and the grayling
was milder ; and
always lower, where the temperature
if in hot countries, only at the foot of mountains, not
far

from sources which had the mean temperature of

the atmosphere,

as in

the Yipacco, near Goritzia,

and in the streams which gush forth from the limeBesides temperature
stone caverns of the Noric Alps.

GRAYLING.

BKVBKTH DAT.J

175

grayling require a peculiar character in the disposition

They do not

of the water of rivers.

in rapid shallow torrents

dwell, like trout,

nor, like charr or chub, in

They require a combination of

deep pools or lakes.

stream and pool ; they like a deep still pool for rest,
and a rapid stream above, and a gradually declining
shallow below, and a bottom where marl or loam

is

mixed with gravel ; and they are not found abundant

except

have these characters.

rivers that

in

have

to

impossible

grayling river than that

part of

its

course.

You

more

perfect

It

is

specimen of a

now running before

us, in this

see a succession of deep

still

with gentle rapids

pools under shady banks of marl,
above, and a long shelving

tail,

where the

fish sport

Should there be no such pools in a river,

the water was clear,
grayling would remain, provided
and would breed ; but they cannot stem rapid streams,

and

feed.

and they are gradually carried down lower and lower,

and at last disappear. You know the Test, one of
the finest trout streams in Hampshire, and of course
in

England

when

first

knew

this stream,

in
years ago, there were no grayling

it.

twenty

gentleman
brought some from the Avon, and introduced them
into the river at Longstock, above Stockbridge.

They were

for

two or three years very abundant in

but they gradually descended,
;

that part of the river

and though they multiplied

greatly,

there are

now

SALMONIA.

176

SEVENTH DAY.

scarcely any above Stockbridge.

There were, four

in the river just below

but this year

;
many
there are very few there, and the great proportion

years ago,

that remains

found below Houghton.

is

mention, that the water

and they become larger in

native

place,

The

lbs.

this

some

the Avon,

between 3 and 4

I ought to

particularly fitted for

is

of

them,

than in their

river

them weighing

trout, in all its habits of

migration, runs upward, seeking the fresh and cool

waters of mountain-sources to spawn in

the grayling,

I believe, has never the same habit of running

stream;

saw one leaping

I never

Their large back

trout are so often seen.

up

where

at a fall,

seems

fin

intended to enable them to rise and sink rapidly in

deep pools; and the slender nature of the body,

towards the

tail,

them much more

renders

The temper-

leaping cataracts than trout and salmon.

ature of the water, and

character as to

its

unfit for

still

and

rapid, seem of more importance than clearness ; for

I have seen grayling taken in streams, that are

almost

constantly turbid,

Salza in the Tyrol.

This

as

the

texture

in

as

the Inn and the

appears to require food

fish

much upon

flies

and

and not usually preying upon small

fish,

of a particular kind,
their larvae,

trout.
like

It

that

feeding

has

of

the

exceedingly fond of those

very strong
gillaroo

larvae

stomach, in

trout,

and

which inhabit

is

cases,

GRA YLING.

seventh dat.]

177

and are usually covered with sand or

caught a grayling in the

Wochain

about a pound and a

half,

gravel.

I once

Save, that weighed

the stomach of winch

equalled in size a very large walnut, and contained

some small

shells,

and two or three white round

In accordance with

pebbles as large as small beans.

their

general

amongst

habits

feeding,

their usual food in the

autumn; and

at all seasons,

and a small hook,

of

offer

the pool having

grasshoppers

maggots, upon

a secure

are

end of summer and

mode

fine tackle

of taking them,

been previously baited for the

purpose of angling, by throwing in a handful or two

a few minutes before.
POIET.

You

now

said, that

you thought the

Lapland fish, considered by Linnaeus as grayling,
was the same as Back's grayling ; but I find, in the
just

Captain Franklin's narration, two graydescribed

as belonging to the northern
lings
regions,

Appendix

one

to

the

Coregonus

Signifer,

appears to differ very little

in size.

from

and another, which

except being small

This seems to agree as nearly as possible
it,

with our grayling, with a difference of at most one

spine in the back

same

fish as

fin.

May

in a succession of generations

HAL.This

that, in

not this in fact be the

the grayling of the Alps, only rendered

many

is

fit

for a colder climate ?

certainly possible

there

successive generations,

is

no doubt

animals
N

may

SALMON!A.

178

be

fitted to

[seventh day.

bear changes, which would have destroyed

It is said

their progenitors.

by Block, that graylings

and in the Baltic,

are found in the Caspian sea,

have proved, the

;
grayling of England will not bear even a brackish
And notwithstanding the
water without dying.
masses of saline water

streams under the ice

much

high northern latitudes,

winter in

of the

severity

though, as I

may

retain a temperature not

lower than some of the Alpine rivers.

I have

seen grayling in Carniola, in a source at the hottest

season, not

water,

the

and

quite 50;

deepest

part,

as,

in large bodies of

in frost,

generally the

is

warmest, about 40, the degree at which water

heaviest, I see no reason

why

grayling

habituated to such a temperature

may

is

not be

coolness being

generally favourable to their existence.

But

see,

the

fog which had filled the valley and hid the mountains
from our sight is clearing away, and I fear it will be

Before the sun becomes too bright

a hot day.

the best time for fishing, in such a day as this.

soon as the fog

to appear,

PHYS.

and

is fairly off,

is

As

the water-flies will begin

fish to sport.

I see the fog has already disappeared from

meadow, where, I suppose, the

from the considerable mass of the

the deep water in the

warmth
water,

is

of the

air,

greater

the hills sending

and which

down

is

further removed from

currents of cold

air,

from the

GRA YLIXG.

8EVESTH DAY.]

179

mixture of which with the moist

river this

is

phenomenon

air

produced. I see

beginning to come out

flies

warm

warm

above the

some yellow

they have already

felt

and look, a fish has

risen
that
and
he rises again ; let
bank,
opposite
just
the influence of the

us prepare our tackle.

POIET. "What flies shall

HAL. I recommend

lies

deeper and

is

we employ ?

at least three

not so shy a

provided your link

for the grayling

the trout

fish as

and,

not apt to be scared by the

is fine, is

The

on the water.

cast of flies

air;

fineness of the link,

and of the guts to winch your flies are attached, is a

most essential point, and the clearer the stream the
finer

should be the tackle.

have known good

fishermen foiled by using a gut of ordinary thickness,

though

their fly

Very slender
water

is

was of the right

transparent gut of

size

and

colour.

the colour of the

one of the most important causes of success

in grayling fishing.

Let

select a fine stretcher.

yellow-bodied
rail's

wing
body ; and

fly,

me

Now,

see your

with red hackle for

for the second,

book

I will

for the lowest fly, use a

legs,

and land-

a blue dun, with

dun

for the highest, the claret coloured body,

with blue wings;

and

let

about three feet from the

your

first

stretcher

dropper

fly

be

and from the

other dropper, and let the hanging link which attaches

them be

2>h

inches long.
N 2

SALMONIA.

180

PHYS.

There are several

at that opposite

he appears

fish rising

It is a trout

HAL.

By his mode of

I shall throw

large.

and not

PHYS. How do you know

HAL.

[seventh day.

a grayling.
?

rising.

He

is

lying at the

the flies as they sail

top of the water, taking
him, which a grayling scarcely ever does.

down by

He

rises

the bottom or middle of the water, on

rapidly from
the contrary
his

fly,

darting

upwards, and, having

There

returns to his station.

risen.

seized

a grayling has

I do not mean, however, that tins habit

variable;

sometimes

have

seen

trout

feed

is in-

like

of these
grayling like trout, but neither

grayling,

and

fish emits

bubbles of

air in rising, as

dace and chub do.

Grayling

PHYS.

I have one

He

has taken

and must be a small one,

vigour.

HAL.

He

is

about fib.

for

my

blue dun,

he plays with no

a fish of two years and

GRA YLING.

BEVESTH DAY.]

a half old
if

very good

181

I will land him

for the table.

possible.

PHYS.There

HAL. This
months
upper

He

is off

their
happens often with grayling
and unless the hook catches in the
:

are tender,

which

lip,

is

rather thick,

it is

more than an

equal chance that the fish escapes you.

PHYS. Here, I have another, that has taken the

stretcher,

and

be held.

He

he spins
lar^e back

hook, I hope he may

but how oddly

as it is a larger
is

likewise a larger fish

must be owing to his

carries him round.

This, I suppose,

fin.

bv which the stream

he has quite twisted my link ; it would

not be amiss to have swivels for this kind of fishing.

There he

HAL.

is

good season, dark above,

should
I
and
below,
suppose, about ljlb.
weighs,
PHYS. As this is the first grayling I have seen of

fair

my own
him.

HAL.
barrel

It is a fish in

taking, I

We can

must measure, weigh, and examine

he can be kept

time of the day.

PHYS- I am

immediately

interesting to

See, our fish

do this hereafter.
alive

disposed

to

till

more convenient

gratify

my

curiosity

for to acquire information is at least as

me

as catching fish.

by a blow on the head.

crimping afterwards

He

is

I shall kill

not, I suppose,

him

worth

SALMONIA.

1S2

HAL.

[seventh day.

Certainly not, at this time

necessary with a fish of tins

size,

and

it is

not

winch ought to be

Grayling.

fried

but

if

we

catch a large grayling, approaching

to 2 lbs., he shall be killed, crimped, and boiled, like

our Denliam trout

and not

more

like the

then find him excellent,

you

will

my

opinion, to the best perch

inferior, in

most exquisitely tasted of

our

fish,

handsome

fish,

all

the red mullet.

PUTS.

Out

of the water, this

is

broader round the middle, and more hog-backed than

the trout, but gracefully tapering towards the

The

belly,

see, is silvery

and anal

ventral,

pectoral,

coloured

with yellow;
fins

are

tail.

and the

almost

gold-

the back gray with small black spots, and

the back fin of a beautiful bright purple, with black

and blue

spots.

so that both

It has likewise an agreeable

from

its

seem undeserving the

colour and smell

title

given

it

by

St.

it

odour

does not

Ambrose, of

GEAYLIXG.

SEVENTH DAY.]

the flower

It measures, I find,

of fishes.

in length; in girth 7 J.

It weighs 17

has 10 spines in the pectoral

16 in the

fin,

14 in the

ventral,

183

14 inches

ounces.

23 in the

anal,

It

dorsal,

and 18 in the

caudal.*

HAL.

Now

for its anatomy.

Its

stomach

is

very

thick, not unlike that of a charr or gillaroo trout,

contains

The

flies,

gravel,

and

mustard

differ

and

with their cases.

much from

those

the ovaria or roe, with eggs as large

on each side the

seed, are

a thicker

Though

larvse,

and bowels do not

liver

of a trout
as

and

fish,

much more than the trout in proportion

the greater breadth of back

more rapid tapering

of

air bladder.

the grayling does not weigh

tail,

is

to Ins length

compensated by the

and a trout in very high

season will sometimes equal in weight a grayling of

The ova in tins fish, and in the
the same length.
species generally, are very small at this time of the

year;

but in the beginning of April, the season of

become nearly

their spawning, they

ova of the trout

see, Poietes,

as large as the

But I

of the size of peppercorns.

your rod

is

in order,

and there

are

many

deep pool, some of winch are large

The blue dun is on in quantity, and we

fish rising in this

grayling.
[

* Its
eye

mouth by
odour,

its

is marked by an
angular pupil, pointed anteriorly
small and few teeth, situated in the lips and vomer

commonly

that of thyme.

faint

J.

D.J

and

indistinct,

by some

is

thought

to

its
its

resemble

SALMOXIA.

134

[seventh day.

have both cloud and wind, which, half an hour ago we

had no right
three

flies

Let me advise you to use

to expect.

of different shades of the dun

the

a pale blue with yellow body;

winged

fly

with dun body

with dark body.

fly

is

third, a similar

see

and again he

Good

have him

I advise you to use the same kind of

your tackle precisely in the same

up

How
my

well they rise

line

he

is

and in good season.

sixteen inches long,

had two on

he rose and
has a second

Now we

to be a large fish.

POIET.

winged fly for the stretcher with

he has taken it, and ought

try a

a greenish body.

has done.

dropper, a

I think the colour of the dubbing

it.

too bright

first

and the

There, you

refused your stretcher

time refused

the stretcher,

one of them

At
is

fly,

at least

Ornither,

and to put

way

as Poietes

that

moment I

gone, but I hope

I shall land the other.

HAL.
fear

Fish with

the sun

difficult to

advise

you

is

take

cloud lasts.
activity while the

coming
fish.

to follow

out,

when

it

will

be more

I shall try the next pool, and I

me and

fish

by turns,

passing

each other, and taking different pools below, and so

wend your way downwards, fishing wherever you see
There is no better part of the river
fish sporting.

than that pool below you, and you cannot take a wrong
direction.

Immediately beyond Burrington Bridge

GRA YLING FISHING.

seventh day.]

you

will find

go no

185

two excellent pools, and I advise you to

down

farther

If

to-day.

keep him

you take a

lbs.,

for crimping

the smaller fish you can

fish

alive in the fish barrel

approaching 2

with some rushes in your basket

we

kill,

and carry
be

shall at least

able to send a dish of grayling to the patron of our

sport at

Downton.

NOON.
HAL.

gentlemen, I

"Well,

hope you have been

successful.

POIET.

We have had good

some time reposing on

for

the scene below.

beautiful

How
banks

these

cliff,

but I have been

bank, and admiring

fine are these

!

the

approach to the character

precipitous

sport

this

lulls

woods

in

the

of mountains;

How

distance

and the

which forms the summit of that

monument, and
had been bared and torn by a deluge, which
had stemmed.

distant elevation, looks like a diluvian

as if
it

it

HAL.
tion

is

It

is

one of the Clee

basaltic,

cliffs

and

its

termina-

and such rocks usually assume such

is beautiful, to-morrow

But though tins spot

I hope to show you a more
forms.

hills,

exquisite landscape,

and woods, and gushing waters, of a character

more romantic.

We

will

return

to our inn

still

by a

SALMONIA.

186

[seventh day.

shorter road; but tell nie, have

you caught a large

amongst you, and preserved him for crimping ?
POIET. We have
preserved two fishes in the barrel,

fish

but I fear they are

HAL. They

are

much below your proposed

good

fish,

size.

and of the average size

16 inches long,

of the large grayling in this stream

and about 1^ lb. ; they will make a good variety

boiled and placed in the middle of the fried fish.

And how many

POIET.
trout

and

have you caught altogether ?

have basketed (to coin a word) three

six grayling.

PHYS. And

I have taken

seven

grayling.

them

in

caught trout likewise, but, not considering

proper

season, I returned

them

to the river

Ornither has been the most successful

ten grayling.

HAL.

The

least I never

but

he has killed

trout is rarely good in this river

at
saw one that cut red, and vet I have

taken them in July, when their external appearance

was perfect and beautiful ; but they have, to my taste,
always a flabby and soft character of flesh, and at all
seasons here are inferior for the table to grayling ; yet
they often attain a considerable

size.

There are few

small fish in these streams, and I suppose the grayling,

which are most numerous, deprive the trout of

proper

and

share

flies.

of

the

food,

depending upon

their
larvae

HABI TS

seventh day.]

PETS.

As we

OF GRAYLING.

are walking

187

through these meadows,

pray give us some information as to the habits of the

and

grayling,

so

much

with

St.

HAL.

in

its localities

pleased with

my

The

I have been

fish.

habits of the grayling, like those

fish,

are very simple.

a certain extent, gregarious

less so

sport, that I shall become,

Ambrose, a patron of the

most other

and

England

more

He

is,

of

I believe, to

so than the trout,

than the perch, and the usual varieties of

known in England. His form and

have
He is as yet scarcely in
seen.
appearance you
his highest or most perfect season, which is in the

the carp species

end of November or beginning of December, when his

back is very dark, almost black, and his belly and lower
fins are nearly

gold-coloured

but his brightness, like

that of most other fishes, depends a

nature of the water

more

good deal upon the

and on the continent I have seen

than in England
the lower part almost a bright orange, and the back fin
fishes far

brilliantly coloured

approaching to the colour of the damask rose, or

rather of an anemone.

and sometimes
female
males.

is

The grayling spawns

as late as the

beginning of

May

the

generally then followed by two or three

She deposits her ova in the tails of sharp

streams, and the males, rubbing against

upon

in April,

the ova the milt or spermatic fluid.

know how long

a time

is

her,

shed

I do not

required for the exclusion

SALMONIA.

188

young ones

of the

[seventh day,

but in the end of July, or

beginning of August, they are of the

size of sprats,

four or five inches long, and already sport merrily at

Though

fly.

season,

observed
yet I have rarely

same kind of

upon

I have often taken grayling in bad

leech,* or louse,

the trout

which

from which I

upon them the

is

so often found

infer, that they seldom

hide themselves, or become torpid in the mud.

in
grayling hatched

May

or June, I conclude,

The

become

the same year, in September or October, nine or ten

inches long, and weigh from Jive ounces to half a

pound ; and the year after they are from twelve

fifteen inches long, and weigh from three-quarters
a

pound

and these two

to

you have seen, are

sizes, as

the fish that most usually rise at the

size in this river is called

to

shote,

The

fly.

which

is

first

a Celtic

word, I believe applied likewise in the west of England

* I

may mention one remarkable

instance as an exception, which

has recently occurred to me, the 21st of May, 1828.

was fishing in

the Save, between Wochain and Veldes, in some deep, clear, bright,

green pools.
long,

that

had

caught
all

five or six grayling

leeches

near the

tail

between 15 and 17 inches

;

they

were beautifully

and bad probably got these parasitic animals after their

Of course this was the time when they
spawning, when they reposed.
were in their worst season, as they were just beginning to recover
coloured,

from the work of generation.

refused the fly, but there were

At
as yet

leech was a small greenish dark

half long, like a

common

this

time they often rose at and

The
flies on the water.

no large

worm, about an inch

leech in form and colour.

or an inch and a

GRAYLING RIVERS.

seventh day.J

Of

to small trout.*

their

year I cannot speak;

their food

after the

growth

tins

189

and place of residence.

they do not grow

second

must depend much on

Marsigli says,

and

after the third year,

at this age,

sometimes a cubit long; but

fished
much
in that country, I never
have
though I
If they are taken into new and
saw any so long.

in Austria, they are

still

comparatively

food

is

water recently made, and where

they grow

plenty,

circumstances, I have seen

under these

very fast;

them above 3 lbs.

In the

mentioned before, the grayling has

been only recently introduced, they have sometimes
in this river I
been caught between 3 and 4 lbs.
Test, where, as I

never took one above 2 lbs., but I have heard of one

being taken of 2^ lbs. The grayling is a rare fish in

England, and has never been found in Scotland and
Ireland (as Poietes observed before)

few rivers containing

know

their increase.

west than the

Avon

some
[*

in

and there are

the conditions necessary for

of

no grayling

Hampshire

river farther

they are found in

of the tributary streams of this river

Some

doubt,

all

which

rise

of the circumstances stated in the text above admit of

as that of the contact of the

male and female

fish in the act

of

spawning; that of the young grayling, the shote, met with in September and October, being only four or five months old
from such
:

information as

have been able

to collect, I

am

led to infer, that like

the salmon, the breeding fishes merely follow each other closely
that the shote

is

at least

one year old.

J.D.]

and

SALMONIA.

190

in Wiltshire.

know

on the north coast west

of

no

[seventh

few only in the upper part of this

streams which form

few in the

Wye

it

and

in
its

many

there are very

river,

North Wales.

and in the
There are a

In the

tributary streams.

Lug, which flows through the next

shire,

them

river containing

of the Severn

dai-.

valley, in Hereford-

In the Dee,

grayling are found.

as I

have said before, they are found, but are not common.

In Derbyshire and Staffordshire, the Dove, the Wye,

the Trent, and the Blithe, afford grayling ; in
Yorkshire, on the north coast, some of the tributary
streams of the Eibble,
and in the south, the Ure, the

Wliarfe, the

Humber, the Derwent, and the streams

that form

it,

some other

localities of this fish

as I

particularly the

There may be
to me ; but

Eye.

unknown

have fished much, and inquired much respecting

it is found, I think
my information

the places where

tolerably correct

HAL. He

PEYS.

rarely so

when

and complete.

Is this fish to be fished for in spring?

is

much

there are

take them

to

be fished for

out of season as to be a bad

flies

on the water, he

but as the trout

spring and summer

may be

so

fish

with the same imitation of

flies

is

and

considered as a

the

Of course the grayling

is

will generally

fish,
grayling
considered as a winter and autumnal fish.

PHYS.

he

at all times, for

may be

taken in spring

as the trout

BAITS FOR GRAYLING.

seventh day.]

HAL.

The

same.

these two

As

191

far as flies are concerned,

feed

alike; though
may say,
species
smaller flies, and
generally, that the grayling prefers
or phryganese, of the
the varieties of the

ephemerae

Yet grayling

smallest size, form their favourite food.

do not refuse large flies ; and in the Avon and Test,

May flies, and even moths, are greedily taken in the

summer by

large grayling.

Hies, likewise, that do

not inhabit the water, but are blown from the land,

good baits for grayling. There is no method

more killing, for large grayling, than applying a
are

the lead
grasshopper to the point of a leaded hook,
and shank of which are covered with green and yellow

of fishing
it

Tins

body of the animal.

sinking and drawing.

imitate the

silk, to

is

practised

called

in this river with as

mode

I have seen

much

success

as

maggot fishing; and the fish taken were all of the

most successful in deep
largest size ; the method being
holes,

where the bottom was not

visible,

which are the

In the winter, grayling

an hour or two, in bright and tolerably warm

natural haunts of such

rise for

weather

fish.

and, at this time, the smallest imitations of

black or pale gnats that can be made, on the smallest

In March,
sized hook, succeed best in taking them.
the dark-bodied willow

may be

regarded as the

is made
by a dark
small
dun
four
and
a
or
hackle,
dubbiug

earliest fly

claret

fly

the imitation of winch

SALMONIA.

192

starling's

The blue dun

feathers.

wing

[seventh day,

the middle of the day in this month, and

dun hackles

conies
is

on in

imitated by

wings and legs, and an olive dubbing

In mild weather, in morning and evening

for body.

for

and through April, the green tail, or

comes
on in great quantities, and is well
grannom,
imitated by a hen pheasant's wing feather, a gray or
red hackle for legs, and a dark peacock's harle, or
in this month,

dark hare's ear

fly,

fur, for

the body.

The same kind

of

of a larger size, with paler wings, kills well in the

evening, through

May

The

or June.

water insect called the spider

fly,

body and woodcock's wings, is

bait, on this and other rivers,

imitation of a

with a lead coloured

said to be a killing

in the

end of April

and beginning of May ; but I never happened to see

it on the water.
The dark alder fly, in May and June,
taken greedily by the fish it is imitated by a darkshaded pheasant's wing, black hackle for legs, and a
peacock's harle, ribbed with red silk, for the body.
is

At

this season,

and

in

July, imitations of the black

and red palmer worms, which I believe are taken

black or brown, or red beetles or cockchaffers,
well;
light

and, in dark weather, there are usually very

duns on the water.

the house

ant

for
kill

fly,

floods in

fly

In August, imitations of
and blue bottle, and the red and black

are taken,

and are

autumn, when

particularly killing after

great quantities of the fly are

BAITS FOR GRAYLING.

seventh day.]

destroyed

down

and washed

the

193

In

river.

this

month, in cloudy days, pale-blue duns often appear;

and they are still more common in September.

Throughout the summer and autumn, in fine calm

evenings, a large dun fly, with a pale yellow body, is
greedily taken

by grayling

after

and the

sunset;

In the end of October,

very killing.
and through November, there is no fly fishing but in

imitation of

it is

the middle of the day,

when

imitations of the smaller

duns may be used with great success ; and I have

often seen the fish sport most, and fly fishing pursued
with the greatest success, in bright sunshine, from
twelve

till

two

half-past

o' clock, after

severe frosts in

morning; and I once caught, under these

circumstances, a very fine dish of fish on the 7th of
the

November.

It

was in the year 1816

the

summer

and autumn had been peculiarly cold and wet, and,

probably in consequence
smaller quantity at

flies

were in

season,

and there

later in the year.

Grayling,

their

was a greater proportion

if

of this, the

usual

you take your station by the side of a river, will

nearer to you than trout, for they lie deeper,

and therefore are not so much scared by an object
on the bank; but they are more delicate in the
rise

choice of their
rise

flies

and refuse the

than trout, and will

fly.

much

oftener

Trout, from lying nearer the

surface, are generally taken before grayling,

where the

SA LMONIA

194

water

is

slightly coloured,

[seventh day.

or after a flood

and in

rain, trout usually rise better than grayling, though

sometimes happens, when great

come out

in

rain,

grayling,

as

quantities

of

flies

well as trout,

are

taken with more certainty than at any other time

the artificial fly, in such cases, looks like a wet

and

it

fly,

which generally is more

deceive than trout in the same river.

allures even the grayling,

difficult to

PHYS.

down

As

I was looking into

the river, which

is

ditch

connected with

it,

coming
I saw a

very large eel at the bottom, that appeared to me to

are there many of
be feeding on a small grayling
this fish in the Teme, and do they breed here ?
:

EAL.

There

are

many

of tins fish in the river

to your question, do they breed here

but

I must answer in

The problem of their generation is the

most abstruse, and one of the most curious, in natural

the negative.

and though it occupied the attention of

Aristotle, and has been taken up by most distinguished

history;

naturalists since his time,

PHYS.

it is still

there

unsolved.

was no doubt on the

thought
Lacepede, whose book is the only scientific
one on fishes I have read with attention, asserts, in
subject.

the most unqualified way, that they are viviparous.

HAL.

remember

Ins assertion,

but I looked in

vain for proofs.

PHYS.

do

not

remember any facts brought

GENERATION OF

seventh day.]

forward on the subject

upon it.
HAL.

This

is

one

I will

tell

you

but

all

EELS.

tell

us what you think

I know, which

is

not much.

certain, that there are two migrations of eels,

up and one down

other to the sea

the

first

one from and the

rivers,

eels,

and summer, the

in spring

second in autumn or early winter.

small

195

The

first,

of very

which are sometimes not more than two or

two and a half inches long ; the second, of large eels,

which sometimes are three or four feet long, and
weigh from 10 to 15, or even 201bs. There is great
reason to believe, that all eels found in fresh water
are the results of the first migration

they appear in

and May, and sometimes continue

even as July and the beginning of

millions in April
rise as late

to

August. I remember this was the case in Ireland, in

1823.
It had been a cold backward summer, and

when

I was at Ballyshannon, about the end of July,

the

mouth

this

month, under the

of

of the river,

little eels,

about as

fall.

all

was blackened by millions

long as the finger, which were

fall,

constantly urging their

the side of the

which had been in flood

way up

Thousands

the moist rocks by

died,

but their bodies

remaining moist, served as the ladder for others to

and I saw some ascending even perpendicular stones, making their road through wet moss,
or adhering to some eels, that had died in the attempt.

make

their

way

o2

SALMONIA.

196

[seventh day.

Such is the energy of these little animals, that they

Continue to find their way, in immense numbers, to

The same thing happens at the Tall of

the Bann, and Loch Neagh is thus peopled by them ;

Loch Erne.

even the mighty Pall of Schaffhausen does not prevent

them from

their

making

Constance, where I have seen

PHYS.

You

from the
that

sea,

to

way

have shown,

many
that

Lake

the

very

some

but I do not think the

eels

are derived from that source.

all eels

are eels in the

Lake

of Bourget,

by a stream with the Rhine

Leman

because

Lake,

There

which communicates

but there are none in

the

Rhone makes

below Geneva; and though small

can pass by moss, or mount rocks, they cannot

subterraneous
eels

come

facts prove,

HAL. Pardon me 1 have not concluded.

the

of

large eels.

fall

or

limestone,

penetrate

descending

current

of

move

against

water, passing,

as

it

rapid

were,

through a pipe. Again ; no eels mount the Danube

from the Black Sea; and there are none found in
the great extent of lakes, swamps, and rivers communicating

with

the

Danube,

though

some

of

these lakes and morasses are wonderfully fitted for

them, and though they are found abundantly in the

same countries, in lakes and rivers connected with
the

ocean

brought

and

into

the

Mediterranean.

confined water in the

Yet,

when

Danube, they

MIGRATION OF EELS.

seventh day.]

and thrive

fatten

leads

young

reason:

As

there.

the}' prefer

at the surface in the early

which

to the instinct,

eels to seek fresh water,

probably

197

it is difficult

to

warmth; and, swimrning

find the lighter

summer,

water warmer, and likewise containing more

insects,

and so pursue the courses of fresh water, as the

waters from the land, at this season, become warmer
than those of the
t.

Mr.

sea.

xiv. p. 70) says, that the

Couch

J.

(Lin. Trans,

according to his

little eels,

observation, are produced within reach of the tide,

and climb round

sea.

in

swimming

falls

to reach fresh water

sometimes

have

immense

seen

them,
in

shoals

the

from the

in

spring,

Atlantic,

in

Mount's Bay, making their way to the mouths of

When the cold water from
small brooks and rivers.
the autumnal floods begins* to swell the rivers, this
to return to the sea; but

fish tries

smaller ones hide themselves

the

mud,

numbers of the

during the winter in

and many of them

form,

as

it

were,

Various authors have recorded the

masses together.

migration of eels in a singular way,

such

as

Dr.

Plot, who, in his History of Staffordshire, says, that

from one
they pass in the night, across meadows,
pond to another ; and Mr. Arderon (in Trans. Royal
Soc.) gives a distinct account of small eels rising

up

the flood-gates and posts of the water-works of the

and they made their way to the

water above, though the boards were smooth planed

city of

Norwich

8ALM0NIA.

198

[seventh day.

and

five

or six feet perpendicular.

they

first

rose out of the water

they rested a

little

which

slime was thrown out,

He

seemed to be

and

when

says,

upon the dry board,

their

till

sufficiently glutinous,

and then they rose up the perpendicular ascent with

if
they had been moving on a

the same facility as

plane surface.

can, I think, be

(Trans. Abr. vol. ix. p. 311.) There

no doubt, that they

are assisted

by

their small scales, which, placed like those of serpents,

must

facilitate their progressive

motion:* these

scales

have been microscopically observed by Leuenhoeck.

Eels migrate from the salt

but I believe never when

(Phil. Trans, vol. iv.)

water of different

sizes,

they are above a foot long

them
They

and

the great mass of

from two and a half to four inches.

are only

feed, grow,

and fatten in fresh water.

In small

but in large deep

;
thick
as
a
as
man's
lakes they become
arm, or even

seldom very large

rivers they are

leg

and

all

return

to

probably

eat
*

and

the sea

rains.

considerable

in

size

October or

attempt

November,

experience the cold of the

first

Those that are not of the largest

I said before, pass the winter in the deepest

parts of the
to

those of a

when they

autumnal
size, as

to

mud of rivers

and

much, and remain, I

lakes,

and do not seem

believe,

almost torpid.

[Relative to this opinion, and the following one, that the conger
end of the

eel are not distinct species, see additional note at the

volume.

J.

D.]

CONGER EEL.

seventh day.]

Their increase
time
food

it

but

not certainly

known

in any given

must depend upon the quantity of their

it is probable they do not become of the
from the smallest, in one or even two

largest size,

seasons

is

199

but

this, as well

as

many

other particulars,

by new observations and

Bloch states, that they grow slowly, and

can only be

ascertained

experiments.
mentions, that some had been kept in the same pond
fifteen

for

As very

years.

large eels, after having

migrated, never return to the river again, they must

(for it

cannot be supposed that they

diately in the sea)

remain in

salt

water

great probability, that they are then

the conger, which

sizes

from

all

imme-

die

and there

is

confounded with

found of different colours and

is

the smallest to the largest

from

a few

The colour
ounces to one hundred pounds in weight.
of the conger is generally paler than that of the eel ;
but, in the Atlantic,

it

is

said, that pale

congers are

found on one side of the Wolf Rock, and dark ones

on the

The conger has breathing

other.

to be

are said not

tubes,

found in the other

eel

which

but to

determine this would require a more minute examination than has yet been made.

common

eel

are probably the ovaria

are close to the

[The best and

air bladder,

and. Sir

them hermaphrodite, and

sels

Both the conger and

have fringes along the

E.

Home

which
thinks

that the reproductive ves-

kidneys."*

latest researches

I hope

have proved that

this great

this opinion of Sir

SALMOXIA.

200

[seventh day.

comparative anatomist will be able to confirm his views

by new

and some chemical researches upon

dissections,

the nature of the fringes and the supposed milt.

viviparous,

If

and the fringes contain the ova,

one

mother must produce tens of thousands, the ova being

remarkably small ; but it appears more probable, that
they are oviparous, and that they deposit their ova in
parts of tae sea near deep basins,

which remain warm

This might be ascertained by experiment,

I
particularly on the coasts of the Mediterranean.
in winter.

cannot

find, that

probably

thev haunt the Arctic ocean, which

low

too

of

temperature

to

is

their

suit

and the Caspian and the Black Sea

are probably without them, from their not being found

feelings or habits

in the Volga or

Danube

are perhaps too cold for

these, being shallow seas,

them

in winter.

Prom

time (April) that small eels begin to migrate,

the
it

is

probable that they are generated in winter; and the

ought to be looked for in November,

and
I opened one in December,
December,
January.
in which the fringes were abundant, but I did not
pregnant

eels

examine them under the microscope, or chemically

I trust this curious problem will not remain much
:

longer unsolved.
E.

Home

is

unfounded, and that that which the author considered as most

probably correct

Home

is

true,

viz.

that the

sexes are distinct.

Sir

was led into error by the similarity of the ovaries and

their form and structure as seen by the naked eye.
J. D.]

E.

testes in

Downton

Castle on the

Teme; from a sketch by Mrs. Stackhouse Acton.

EIGHTH DAY.
HALIEUSPOIETESORNITHERPHYSICUS.

Scene

POIET. This
fishing, as well
finer

is

a beautiful day, and, I think, for

as for the

than yesterday.

south, and

is

Downton.

balmy

collecting, they are

enjoyment of the scenery,

The wind blows from the

and though a few clouds are

not sufficiently dense to exclude

SALMON!A.

202

the

warmth

we ought
HAL.

will

of the sun

and, as lovers of the angle,

warmth

to prefer his

[eighth day.

to his light.

I do not think, as the

day advances, there

be any deficiency of light

sorry for this, as

it

will enable

of Downton, and the

more advantage nor
:

and I

you

shall

not be

to see the

grounds

distances in the landscape, to

will light interfere

our sport in this valle}7, where, as

you

much

with

see, there is

no

want of shade.

POIET.Tkis

is

spot

really very fine.

The

fall

of water, the
picturesque mill, the abrupt cliff, and
the bank, covered with noble oaks, above the
river,

compose a scene such

island.

HAL.

AVe

as I

have rarely beheld in this

wander a little longer through the

There you will enter a subterraneous
passage
in the rock beyond the
Behold,
mossy grotto.
will

walks.

the

castle,

or

mansion-house, clothed in beautiful

which the red creeper

vegetables, of
rises

above on the

hill

After

walk and our

fishing, I will, if

to the house,

and introduce you

whom

to

know

is

to love, to

should be grateful, and

who

more extensive gratitude

by

his

is

most

we have
you

please, take

to its

whom

distinct,

finished our

you

worthy master,

all

good anglers

has a strong claim to a

that of his country and of

researches on vegetable
nature, which are not merely curious, but useful, and
society

scientific

FLIES FOR FISHIXG.

eighth day.]

203

which have already led to great improvements in

our fruits and plants, and have generally extended the
popularity of horticulture.

We
provided

PHYS.
favour

shall

be

much

obliged to you for the

always that you

know

will not

it

be an intrusion.

HAL.

Trust

this

to

And

me.

as

now,

all

circumstances are favourable, begin your fishing.

recommend

to

there are always grayling to be caught there

already I see

PHYS.
fish ?

HAL.

some

With

As

stretcher,

you that fine pool below the bridge;

and

rising.

what imitation of

yesterday

you have a good

and two duns

yellow

flies

shall

for

fly

for the droppers.

And now

fish.

we

your
There,

another

both

grayling.

PHYS. I

shall try the rapid

long large pool ;

HAL.

Do

at the top of this

I see several fish rising there.

so.

You

will catch

fish there

trout,

but I fear no grayling.

PHYS.Why
HAL.
rough

In

for

not

grayling,

deep water.

that part of the stream the water

and they

Lower down,

like to

in the

is

too

be nearer the

same

pool, there

are large grayling to be caught.

PHYS.

You

are in the right

the fish I have

is

SALMONIA.

204

large trout

at least

I have landed

HAL.

As

him ;
you

he

shall I

please

much

not

is

[eighth day.

less

than 21bs.

keep him ?
he is as good as he ever

was, or ever will be in this water.

PHYS.

There

are

now more

yellow

I have seen before this season.

suddenly, as

if

flies

out than

They have appeared

sprung from that large

alder.

Though

you gave us in a former conversation some account of

the

used in

flies

fishing, yet I

hope you have not

forgot your promise, to favour us with some

on

more

subject, which, both as connected

with angling, and with a curious part of natural
details

this

history, is very interesting.

HAL.

wish

information from

it

was in

my own

my

power to give you

experience, but, I

been very limited;

to say, this has

English are peculiarly the

fly

done

department
is

of

principally

science,

by

sorry

and though the

fishing nation, yet our

philosophical anglers have not contributed

this

am

and

foreigners,

what

much
has

amongst

to

been

whom

Swammerdam, Reaumur, and above all De Geer,

To attempt to collect and apply
pre-eminent.

are

the

knowledge accumulated by these celebrated men,

would carry us far beyond the limits of a day's
conversation ; and as a great proportion of the
insects that

fly,

walk, or crawl, are the food of fishes,

a dissertation, or discourse on this

subject, would be

NATURAL HISTORY.

eighth day.J

205

You know

almost a general view of natural history.

that

crawfish,

frogs,

of

larvae

every

moths, water
trout;

snails,

kind,

spiders,

beetles,

squillse,

millipedes,

and land

flies,

earthworms,

are

flies,

and I once heard the

late Sir

all

eaten by

Joseph Banks

say, that

he found a large toad stuck in the throat of

a trout

but as the skin of this animal

furnished

is

it
probably had
swallowed
being
by a fish
But though I have found

with an exceedingly acrid secretion,

been disgorged

after

exceedingly

hungry.*

most of the

insect tribes,

and many small

fishes

even

of the most ravenous kind, as pike, in the stomachs

of trout,

me

never happened to

it

to see a toad there.

I might give you an account of the birth and

with

which,

frogs,

fish,

the

may be

eg<?,

fish

and

to

respect

and which, when

resemble

would

you

you the true

*

of

generation,

excluded from

considered in the tadpole state as

not

find

metamorphosis without interest.

to

their
first

life

histories

their

Or

singular

I could detail

which naturalists have given

[Or, perhaps, by a fish of a breed that had no experience of the

poisonous

qualities of

the toad;

considering that the toad

is

not

in the clear brisk streams, the favourite

the toad was

first

made them

and some becoming mad from the

country.

J.D.]

circumstance,

by accident,
haunts of the trout.
"When

introduced into Barbados, only about twenty years

ago, dogs, to their cost,

by experience, they

an improbable

rarely found, and never except

their prey,

some dying

effects of the poison

as carefully avoid

them

there, as they

it

now

is said,

taught

do in

this

SALMONIA.

206

of the habits of snails

sexual

relations

animals

on.

but

Even

of

[eighth day.

and earthworms, and of the

these

apparently

contemptible

this is too delicate a

subject to dwell

the renewing or
change of shell in the

when it falls in its soft state an easy

prey to
a curious inquiry not
for
the
only
physiologist,
but likewise for the chemist.
On these
I
crawfish,

fish, is

points,

must request you

to

refer

to

writers

on Natural

History
yet I shall perform my promise, and say a
few words on winged insects, which, in their
origin
:

and metamorphosis,

the most
extraordinary
miracles perhaps of terrestrial natures.
You

known

offer

must be acquainted with the origin of our common

house

flies ?

PHYS.

We know

that they spring from

maggots,

and that both the common and blue

their ova in putrid animal matter,

hatched and produce

bottle fly deposit

where the eggs are

maggots; that

upon the decomposing animal

after

feeding

material, they gradually

change, gain a hard or horny coat, seem as if entombed,

and wait in a kind of apparent death or slumber, till
they are mature for a new birth, when they burst
their coatings

beings
HA The

and appear in the character of novel

fitted to

L.

of

all

inhabit another element.

history of the birth

other winged insects

peculiarities

is

and metamorphosis

very similar, but with

dependent upon their organs, wants, and

IXSECT METAMORPHOSES.

eighth day.]

You know

habits.

207

the curious details with which

we

have been furnished by natural historians of bees and

ants,

which

live in

The ant

a kind of society.

flies,

of which, as I mentioned to you, imitations are some-

times used by fishermen, were

originally maggots,

and became furnished with wings

not,

however,

passing through the aurelia state for this last transformation.

POIET.

beg your pardon, but, having

lately

read an account of these animals in the very interest-

"An -Introduction

ing book, called

to

Entomology,"

I think I can correct you in one particular, which

that the

of the ant does

mascot

chrysalis or pupa, before

HAL.

it

is,

assume the form of a

becomes a winged animal.

It is true, that the immediate transition of

the maggot

is

into a pupa, then into an ant,

which

is

furnished with a kind of case, from which the wings

emerge

imago

for their perfect transformation into the fly or

state.

The males

die soon after performing

the sexual function; the females,

lose their wings,

and

when impregnated,

either voluntarily or

by fprce

enter into society with neuter or working ants, for

the purpose of raising a

POIET.

You

would be

new

generation.

are perfectly right;

irrelevant to

and, though

it

our present object, I could

almost wish, for the sake of amusing our friends,

that you

would

detail to us

some other parts of the

SALMONIA.

203

[eighth day.

marvellous history of these wonderful animals, winch,

not so well authenticated, might be supposed a

such as the neuter or workphilosophical romance ;

if

and the offspring

the
manner in winch they make, defend, and repair their
dwellings, provide their food, watch and attend to the

ing ants feeding eacn other

female, and take care of her eggs;

their extraordinary

mode

of acquiring

cocci,

which bear to them the same

cattle

much

and defending the aphides and

a part of their food

the

predatory excursions of a

which they bring

particular species to carry off pupae,

up

relation that

do to man, which are fed by them with so

care, and the milk of which forms so important

as slaves.

HAL.

To

enter into

any of the details of the

would carry us into an

history of insects in society,

interminable, though interesting subject, that

soon lose

all

relation to fly-fishing

and I

would

fear

what

I have to say, even on the winged insects connected

with this amusement, will occupy too

time, for

much

we have not more than an hour

of your

to devote to

this object.

POIET.

HAL.

Tell us

The

grasshopper
differ

tribe,

much from

ing no wings.

what you please

we

are attentive.

various individuals of the gryllns, or

spring from larvae, that do not

the perfect insect, except in possess-

The eggs

are deposited in our

meadows,

LIBELLULA.

kightr day.]

and many

species of this animal are gregarious,

their emigrations in

and moths,

butterfly

209

duce caterpillars

The

swarms are well known.

as

you know,

and these

and

lay eggs which pro-

caterpillars, after feeding

upon vegetable food, spin themselves or frame houses

or beds,
cocoons; in which they are transformed

into aurelias,

and from which thev burst forth as

winged insects. The Ubellula, or dragon fly,

the most voracious of the winged insect tribe,

perfect

deposits her eggs in such a manner, that the larvse

fall

into the water, and, after destroying

upon almost

all

the

aquatic insects

and feeding

found in

tins

element, and changing their skins at various times,

they emerge in their winged form the tyrants of the

The gnats and

insect generations in the air.

have a similar existence.

winch only

human

is

blood,

said

The

gnat,

by De Geer to

the

bite

tipulse

female of

man, or suck

in Sweden, lays her egg in a kind of

own spinning.

These eggs
are hatched on the surface of the water, and produce

little

boat or cocoon of her

the larvse, which undergo another change into peculiar

nymphae, that

still

retain the

power of swimming and

moving, from which the perfect insect

the

summer

heat.

The

is

flies,

produced
which I

during
mentioned to you in a former conversation, under
the

name

of the

are of the class

grannom, or green tail, [see fig. 2,)

includes all those
plirygane<z> which

PHRYGANE.E,
WITH THEIR IMITATION'S ON HOOKS.

PHR YGA XE.E.

EIGHTH DA V.]

water

have

that

flies

and wings
bnt
moths,
usually veined
antennae,

long

like those of the

21

something
The yellow flies, which you
and without powder.
saw a short time since sporting on the banks of the

I, 2, 3,
flat

lie

The phryganese {see figs.

have
four
wings, which, when closed,
4,)
two upper ones being
the
on their backs,

are of

river,

tins kind.

and

folded over the lower ones

the willow

fly,

the alder

called

flies

by anglers
and the dun

[see fig. 4,)

fly,

The phryganeae

cut, are of tins kind.

on

the

lay their eggs

the leaves of willows, or other trees, that overhang

the water

they are fastened by a sort of gluten to

the surface of the leaf

when

small hexapode larvae, which

by a curious
themselves

economy

some,

hatched, they produce

fall

of

into the water,

and some, even

collect

or small

sticks;

nature

parts of plants

and

round

shell fish.

They spin
some, gravel ;
themselves a sort of case of silk from their bodies,
this case,

cement

They feed upon

aquatic

and by a gluten, that exudes from

materials

their

together.

plants, and sometimes upon insects, protruding only

When about to
their head and legs from the case.
their
nndergo transmutation, they quit

the surface,
air;

and wait

but some species

stones
perfect

cases, rise to

for this process of nature in the

fix

themselves on plants or

the larvae, and appear

they burst the skin of
animals, male and female, fitted for the office

p2

EPHEMERAE,
WITH THEIR IMITATIONS ON HOOKS.

EPHEMERAE.

EIGHTH DAY.]

In the early spring, the species

from the colour of the

of reproduction.

which are

213

called green tails,

bags of eggs in the female, appear in the warm

gleams of sunshine that happen in cloudy days, and
they then cover the face of the water, and are greedily
As the season advances they
seized on by the fish.

In
appear principally in the morning and evening.
heat of summer the phryganese are almost

the

nocturnal

and seem to have the habits of moths

flies,

at this season, now, I should say, the

appear

are generally seen

ephemera, another class of

to

the

differ

fisherman,

the

in
flies

few

flies

day-time.

that

The

peculiarly interesting

from

the

phryganese

in

carrying their wings perpendicularly on their backs,

and in having long filaments or hairs in their

The March brown

[see fig. 8,)

tails.

the various shades of

duns, [see figs. 5, 6, and 7,) winch I described to you

on a former occasion; the green

and white
all

May

fly,

These

of the class ephemeras.

from

larvae

[see figs.

the red spinner, (see

flies

9 and 10,)

are
fig. 11,)

are produced

which inhabit the water, which can both

crawl and swim, and which generally live in holes

they
coats

they

but

make

in

several

after

transformation

bottom.

They change their

times before they become nymphse

quit their

even

the

skin on the surface of the water

they
to

are

flies,

they

have another

undergo before they are perfect

EPHEMERJE,
WITH THEIR IMITATIONS ON HOOKS.

EPHEMERAE.

EIGHTH DAY.]

animals

for

fitted

generation
to

of their

to

215

make

they

use

some dry bank, or

fly
wings only
tree, where they gradually disencumber
themselves of the whole of the outward habiliment

trunk of a

they brought from the water, including their wings

they become

lighter,

then begin their

more beautiful

sports

in

in colour,

the snnshine

and

appear-

ing like what might be imagined of spirits freed

from the weight of their terrestrial covering. This
last
transmutation has been observed and fully
described by some celebrated naturalists, in the case
of the May-flies,

probably

and one or two other

be

will

found

attached to the class;

me

appeared to

general

species,

and

it

circumstance

I have often observed what

to be the cast-off skins of the small

species of ephemerae
in the water.

on the banks of

rivers

The green ephemera,

and floating

or May-fly, lays

her eggs sitting on the water, which instantly sink to

the bottom

winged

flies,

May-fly,

and most of the duns, or small slenderThe gray, or glossy-winged

do the same.

commonly

called the gray drake, performs

regular motions in the air above water, rising and

falling,

surface,

and
and

sitting, as it were, for a

rising again, at

deposit her eggs.

moment on

which time she

To attempt

is

to describe

the

said to
all

the

variety of ephemerse, that sport on the surface of the

water at different times of the day, throughout the

SALMONIA.

216

year,

would be quite an endless labour.

them appear

to live only a few hours,

EIGHTH DAY.

Some

of

and none of

them, I believe, have their existence protracted to

more than a few days. In spring and autumn a new
variety of these

flies

sometimes appears every day, or

even in different parts

of the

fed on

by

guished, as

These

fishes.

Of

same day.

beetle, or coleoptera genus, there are

insects,

many

the

varieties

which are

distin-

you know, by four wings, two husky-like

and two slender and finer ones below,

shells above,

are bred

from eggs, which they deposit in the ground,

and which, producing

or in the excrement of animals,

larvse in the

and these

The brown

usual way, are converted into beetles,

larvae

themselves are good bait for

beetle or cockchafler, the fern-fly,

fish.

and the

gray beetle, which are abundant in the meadows in

the summer, are often blown into the water, and are
the most

common

insects of this kind eaten

bv

and hydrophili, the water

are ever eaten bv trout, I know not, but it

"Whether the

probable.

ditisci

fishes.

beetles,
is

most

These singular animals are most commonly

found in stagnant waters ; fitted for flying, swimming,

diving, and walking ; they are omnivorous, and
usually fly from pool to pool in the evening.
They
deposit their
live,

eggs in the water, where their larvse

but which, to undergo transmutation into the

But there is hardly an

beetle, migrate to the land.

ICHNEUMONS.

EIGHTH DAY.]

insect that

flies,

and the

bee,

21

including the wasp, the hornet, the

butterfly, that does not

become

some

at

time the prey of

fishes.

I have not, however, the

knowledge, or

I had,

have not the time, to go

through the

if

lists

of these interesting

little

animals

but of the family of one of them I must speak

ichneumons, that deposit their eggs in
or the larvae of other

flies,

the

caterpillars,

and which feed on the

unfortunate animal in which they are hatched, and

come out
their

of its interior

To

parent.

when

dead, as

if it

had been

enter into the philosophy of tins

and
subject, and to study the organs

faculties of these

various insect tribes, in their function of respiration,

and reproduction, would be sufficient for

To know what has already been
the labour of a life.
done would demand the close and studious application
nutrition,

of

comprehensive mind;

branch of science in
above

human powers

all its
;

but

and to complete
parts

tins

probably almost

is

much might be done

if

enlightened persons would follow the example of

De Geer, Eeaumur, and Huber, and study minutely
the habits of particular tribes;
that physiology

might be

and

it

is

probable,

much advanced by minutely

investigating the simplest forms of living beings, and

that

particularly

generation;

with respect to

the functions of

a minute study of the modifications of

which the forms of animals seem susceptible, particu-

SALMOXIA.

218

or
larly in the hyinenopterous,

[eighth day.

bee

tribe,

might lead

to very important results.

POIET.
the

Even

analogies

insects

have

admit

of

some

from the

transformation

beautiful

of

applications, that

been neglected by pious

not

The three
and

in a moral point of view, I think

derived

states of the caterpillar,

entomologists.

pupa or aurelia,
Greek poets,

of the
butterfly, have, since the time

been applied to typify the human being its terrestrial

form, apparent death, and ultimate celestial destination;
seems more extraordinary that a sordid and
crawling worm should become a beautiful and active

and

fly

it

that an inhabitant of the dark and fetid dung-

hill

rise

should in an instant entirely change its form,

than
into the blue air, and enjoy the sunbeams,

whose pursuits here have been after an

undying name, and whose purest happiness has been
derived from the acquisition of intellectual power
that a being,

and

knowledge, should

finite

state

of being, where

rise

immortality

hereafter into
is

no longer a

name, and ascend to the source of Unbounded Power

and

Infinite

PHYS.
account

Wisdom.
have been listening, Halieus, to your
with attention, and I only

of water-flies

were not more copious. Let

me now call your attention to that Michaelmas daisy
a few minutes ago, before the sun sunk behind the
regret, that

your

details

TRANSFORMATION OF INSECTS.

eighth day.]

219

flowers were covered with varieties of bees,

hill, its

and some wasps,

busy in feeding on

all

sweets.

its

never saw a more animated scene of insect enjoyment.

The bees were most

of

them humble

and the wasps appeared

to me,

bees,

different

some new

from any 1

have seen before.

HAL.

I believe tins

flowers that insects of

days

it is

afford a

is

one of the

In sunnv

and

their constant point of resort,

good opportunity

autumnal

last

kind haunt.

this

would

it

to the entomologist to

make

a collection of British bees.

POIET.

neither hear the

can I see any on

PHYS.

its flowers.

Since the sun has

hum

They

of the bee, nor

are

now

the evening has, I suppose, driven the

plunderers to their homes.

three

But

see, there are

their

tongues

honey ; I believe one of them

mouth

his

fallen
last

winged
two or

is

still

is

cold,

in the fountain

actually dead, yet

He

has

making

his

attached to the flower.

and probably died

asleep,

still

wliilst

meal of ambrosia.

ORN.
the

little

humble bees which seem languid with the

and yet they have

of

deserted.

disappeared, the cool of

What an

moment

of enjoyment, following

gratification of

beneficent are

PHYS.

enviable destiny, quitting

an

life

instinct, the

which has been always pleasurable

all

Like

the laws of Divine

in

so

Wisdom.

Ornither, I consider the destiny of

ULMOXIJ
"

t"

"-

and I cannot help re^ardin?

tie end of human life as most
happy, when termi-

.ole,

nated under the impulse of some strong energetic

oiLar in its nature to

an

usual enjoyment

Hdsni

moment

of

ffr

but the death of Epaminondas or

nns of

in

I should

instinct.

:o die like Attila in a

victory, their

whole attention

absorbed in the love of glorv and of their country I

think tnviab'-

POIET.

sain*

consider the death of the

martyr or the

more enviable;

for in this case,

what

be considered a? a divine instinct of our

nature,
called

_d pain

i;
-

by

-re

is

subdued, or destroved

power and mercv of the

faith in the

m an

In such cases

Divinity.

is

rises

above mortality.

and shows

Bv

his true intellectual

superiority.

final

eriority I

bpflp

nature, for I

capable

of

Eeason

is

feeling,

and

mean

that

of his

in-

spiritual

do not consider the results of reason as

being compared

often a

with those of

dead weight in

substhiiting,

life,

for principle,

faith.

destroying
calculation

and caution: and, in the hour of death, it often

produces fear or despondency, and is rather a bitter
drau_
of

jt

ambrosia in the

last

meal

life.

Hal.
inter

I agree with Poiet

the feeling, under

The higher and more

which death takes

pla:

z:

mi

REFLEC TIOXS ON DMA TH.

the happier

Physicus

it

will

conclusion

may be esteemed

and I think even

be of our opinion, when I recollect the

of

conversation

in

Scotland.

T_.r

immortal being never can quit life with so much

pleasure as with the feeling of immortality secure,

and the vision of

celestial

glory

by no other passion
intense love of God.
affected

filliTicr

tiian

the

the mind,

pure and

Tr&un

Fall.

NINTH DAY
HA LIEUSPOIETES ORNITHERPE YSICUS.

PISHING FOE, HTTCHO.

Scene The

Fall of the Traun, Upper Austria.

Time

POIET.

This

is

July.

a glorious scene

And the

fall of

accompaniments of
would alone
wood, rock, and snow-clad mountain,

this great

and

clear river,

with

its

F1SHIXG FOR HUCHO.

mn-th day.]

furnish matter

many

days.

is

with regard to sport

little

is

that of

satiety

for these great grayling

used to the

for

the paradise of a

quite

the only danger

poetical angler;

trout are so

and conversation

for discussion

This place

223

artificial

fly,

and

that they

moving on the top of the water.

You see I have put on a salmon fly, and still they rise
at it, though they never can have seen any thing like
take almost any thing

it

before

nature.

HAL.

and

You

thing like
large

fly,

it

and

it

is,

in fact, not like any thing in

are right, they have never

before; but, in

its

seen any

it is

motion,

this is the season for large

like a

flies.

The

and the

stone

fly
May fly, you see, occasionally drop
upon the water, and the colour of your large fly is not

unlike that of the stone

fly

but

if,

instead of being

here in the beginning of July, you had visited this

spot, as I once

did, in

the beginning of June, you

would have found more

here, though not so

diiflculty in

much

in the Test, the Derwent, or the

POIET How
HAL.

At

appeared

this

could this be
season the

the small blue

I was obliged to use a

suits

catching grayling

as in our English rivers

lars-e flies

had not vet

dun was on the

fly

all

large

flies,

water,

and

the same as that which

our spring and late autumnal fishing.

refused

Dove.

The

fish

but took greedily small ones;

SALMONIA.

224

and, as usually happens

more

fish

after

escaped

when

[ninth day.

small

flies

are used,

being hooked than were taken ;

and these I found, the next day, were become as

sagacious as our Dove or Test fish, and refused the
artificial
fly.

PHYS.

though they greedily took the natural

fly,

These

then,

fish,

as our English salmons

HAL.

The

have the same habits

and trouts

principle to

which I have referred in

two former conversations must be general, though it

has seemed to me, that they lost this memory sooner
than the
is

fish of

common.

referred

it

our English rivers, where fly-fishing

Tins, however,

kind

to

may be

of

fancy, yet I have

hereditary

disposition,

which has been formed and transmitted from then*

progenitors.

PHYS.

However

new
and
of

strange

When

believe this.

islands, the birds

easily killed

man

by

it

may

appear,

I can

the early voyagers discovered

upon them were

sticks

quite tame,

and stones, being

fearless

but they soon learned to know their enemy,

newly acquired sagacity was possessed by

Wild
their offspring, who had never seen a man.

and

tins

are, in fact,

from the same

only necessary to

compare them,

and domesticated ducks

original type

it is

when hatched together under

of the principle

of the

a hen, to be convinced

hereditary

transmission of

HEREDITARY INSTINCT.

Kisru day.]

habits,

the wild young ones instantly

225

fly

from man,

the tame ones are indifferent to his presence.

POIET.

No

one can be

disposed than I

less

am

powers of living nature, or to doubt

structures ; but it
capabilities of organised

to limit the

the

does appear to

me

quite a dream, to suppose that a

pricked by the hook of the artificial fly,

should transmit a dread of it to its offspring, though

fish,

he does not even long retain the memory of

it

himself.

HAL. There
but I not dwell upon them,

are instances quite as extraordinary

will

sure of the fact which

we

am

as I

are discussing

not quite

I have

made

a guess only, and we must observe more minutely to

a mere
establish it ; it may be even as you suppose

dream.

POIET.

shall

go and look

really satiated with sport

it is

seventeen inches long ; and there

and

salmon

several

HAL.

h Inch

These
it is

is

PHYS.

am

a graybng of at least
is

a trout of eighteen,

which look as

if

they had

salmon trout have run from a

salt sea

called

Tell us

sea,

thev are fish of the Traun

by the Germans, or Traun Lake,

emptied by this

sea.

but not from a

See, as

trout,

this is the twentieth fish I

have taken in an hour, and

run from the

at the fall

why

river.

they are so different from the

SALMONIA.

226

river trout,

or

why

there should be two

species or

same w ater.
T

varieties in the

HAL.

[ninth day.

Your

a difficult one, and

is

question

alreadv been referred to in a former

but I shall repeat what I stated before,

it

has

conversation

that

qualities

occasioned by food, peculiarities of water, &c. are

transmitted to the offspring, and

which retain

their characters as

produce

varieties

long as they are

exposed to the same circumstances, and only slowly

lose them.
Plenty of good food gives a silvery colour
and round form to fish, and the offspring retain these

Feeding much on

characters.
fish

to

larvse

and on

the

and

belly

Even

characters.

fins,

become

which

hereditary

these smallest salmon trout have

green backs, black spots only, and silvery bellies

which

it

Germans

we

from

evident, that they are the offspring of the

is

lake trout,

as

shell-

thickens the stomach, and gives a brighter yellow

or

lacks forette,

as

is

it

whilst the river trout, even

see in

one of these

season, have red spots.

fish,

though

But why

"What an immense
HAL. I
nothing.
POIET. At the edge
the

POIET.

called

when 4

fish

by the
or 51bs.,

in excellent

that exclamation?
!

There he

is

see

of

saw a

fish, at least

pool,

two or three

great violence in the water, as

small fish;

and

at the

below the

fall,

feet long, rising

if

with

in the pursuit of

same time I saw two or three

SAL MO HUCHO.

surra day.]

minnows

jump out

or bleaks

fish is it ?

trout

of the water.

What

me too

long and

It appeared to

too slender for a trout, and had

a

pike

yet

it

227

followed,

more the character

and did not,

like a pike,

of

make

a single dart.

HAL.

him

I see

it is

neither a pike nor a trout,

which I have been some time hoping and

a salmo hicho,
expecting to see here, below the fall
I am delighted that you have an
or kitchen.
but a

fish

of

opportunity

seeing

observing his habits.

POIET.

Catch

him

this

I hope
!

curious

we

and of

fish

shall catch him.

we have no

tackle

strong
o

enough.

HAL.
so

am

yet he

is

as

too large to take a

We

trolled for.
fish,

surprised to hear a salmon fisher talk

we do

must spin a bleak

for the trout of

salmon of the Tay.

and must be

fly,

for him, or small

the

Thames

or the

Ornither, you understand the

arrangement of this kind of tackle

look out

in

mv

book the strongest set of spinning hooks you can find,

and supply them with a bleak ; and whilst I am
changing the
(which, I

reel,

am

been able to

I will give you

sorry to say,

is

all

the information

not much) that I have

collect respecting this fish

from

observation or the experience of others.

is

my own

The hucho

the most predatory fish of the salmo genus, and

made

like

an

ill-fed trout,

is

but longer and thicker.

q2

SALMON1A.

228

He

[ninth pay.

has larger teeth, more spines in the pectoral

fin,

thicker skin, a silvery belly, and dark spots

only

the back and sides,

The ratio

fins.

I have never
9 to 20

on the

seen any
is

as 8 to 1 S,

fish,

18 inches

of his length to his girth

or, in well-fed fish, as

and a

on

long by 8 in girth, weighed 16,215 grains.

Another,

2 feet long, 11 inches in girth, and 3 inches thick,

weighed 41bs.
weighed

2|oz.

Another,

Of the

5oz.

51bs.

26 inches

long,

spines in the fins, the

anal has 9, the caudal 20, the ventral 9, the dorsal

12, the pectoral 17

in

many, I

give

this

having numbered the spines

as

species than in

The

correct.

fleshy

I think, larger in

belonging to the

genus is,
any I have seen.

fishes, states that there are

fin

this

Bloch, in his work on

black spots on

all

ihe

fins,

with the exception of the anal, as a character of this

and Professor Wagner informs me he has seen
fish
:

huchos with

this peculiarity

never saw any

fish

but, as I said before, I

with spotted

fins,

yet I have exa-

mined those of the Danube, Save, Drave, Mur, and

Isar

perhaps this is peculiar to some stream in

yet the huchos in the collection at Munich

Bavaria

have

it

not.

tributary to
rivers always

The hucho

the Danube
;

is

found in most

in the Save

yet the general opinion

is

rivers

and Laybach
that they run

from the Danube twice a year, in spring and autumn.

I can answer for their migration in spring, having

SALMO HUCHO.

ninth day.]

229

caught several in April, in streams connected with the

Save and Laybach rivers, which had evidently come
from the still dead water into the clear running streams,
tor they

had the winter

upon them

leech, or louse of the trout,

and I have seen them of

April, in the market at Laybach,

two

feet

sizes,

in

larger,

and

It is the opinion of

naturalists, that

it is

only a fresh water fish

because

it is

never found bevond certain

this I doubt,
falls

all

six inches to

much

long; but they are found

reach 30, or even 40, pounds.

some

from

as in the Traun, the Drave,

and the Save

yet

and,

there can be no doubt, comes into these rivers from

the

Danube; and probably, in its largest state, is a

the Black Sea."*
Yet it can winter in fresh

fish of

water

and does not seem,

hauut the

sea,

but

of the great rivers, from

to seek

a cooler

like the salmon, obliged to

back into the warmer waters

falls

which

temperature

it

migrates in spring,

and

to

The

breed.

fishermen at Gratz say they spawn in the Mur, between

March and May.

In those I have caught at Laybach,

which, however, were small ones, the ova were not
sufficiently

developed to admit of their spawning that

[* During a residence of nine months in Constantinople, often visiting

the fish-market in person, and
give accurate
'^een

seen there,

Black Sea,

from

fish. J. D.J

making inquiry of persons most

likely to

information, I could not learn that the hucho had ever

leading

to

the inference that

whence the Turkish

capital

is

it is

unknown

in the

in part supplied

with

SALMON1A.

230

[siyra day.

Danube

Marsigli says, that they spawn in the

spring.

You

in June.

have seen

how

violently they pursue

I have never taken one without fish in his

their prey

stomach;

yet,

when

small, they will take a

the Kleingraben, which

is

and where they are found of all

the little ones take a
201bs. downwards

river,

In

fly.

a feeder to the

Laybach
sizes
from

flv, lout

the

large ones are too ravenous to care about so insigni-

and prey like the largest trout, often

hunting in company, and chasing the small fish into
the narrow and shallow streams, and then devouring
ficant a morsel,

them.

But I
me

to try

As

ready.

my

fortune with this

fish,

more
will

you
I

see

still

but I must keep out of sight, for he has

the timidity peculiar to the salmo genus, and, if

him feeding
all

is

angler in this kind of fishing,

experienced
allow

see your tackle

he catch sight of me,

ORN.

You

will certainlv

not run at the

bait.

spin the bleak for him, I see, as for a

great trout.

there

have missed him.

What

he has run at
a fish

You

it

and

you

surely were too

at the bleak.
quick, for he sprung out of the water

HAL.

I was not too quick

but he rose just as the

me ; and now he

bleak was on the surface, and saw

is

frightened,

We

must

will be,

shows he

and gone down into the deep water.

we see him feeding again, which

retire till

I hope, in a few minutes, for his violence

is

not yet

satisfied.

TAKING A SALMO HUCIIO.

XINTH DAY.]

POIET.

I think I saw him moving

of the pool

HAL.

it is

You

now

ten minutes since

are right

he

is

231

in another part

we saw him last.

again on the feed,

and in a place where we have a better chance of

hooking him, as the water is deeper and in the shade.

He

has run again at the bleak, but only as

on

tlie

but he

surface

has taken
is

it,

a powerful

ORN.

and

Ah

not frightened.

he

He

floundering and struggling.

fights well,

Take

which

is

shone

fish.

He

where the rock

HAL.

is

it

is

and runs towards the

side

him from

that

is.

the net and frighten

the only one where there

is

danger
now, and begins to tire,
and in a few minutes more he will be exhausted.

place,

of losing him.

Now

He

is

clear

land him.

Salmo

POIET.

A noble

fish.

IIuclio.

But how

exactly like a sea trout in whiteness,

spots.

like a trout

and I think

in

SALMOXIA.

232

HAL.

[oththdat.

He

is much narrower or less broad, as you

would immediately discover, if you had a sea trout
here.
But now we must try another pool, or the

that fish was not alone,

of this;

tail

moment he took
move from

the

the bait

stir

catching this fish is yours, as

I see you are in earnest

Oh

ho

at the

Take your rod and

of another.

your own tackle, Omither;

fit

and

think I saw the water

half

the

glory of

you prepared the hooks.

the blood mounts in

your

Omither, you have pulled with too

alas
violence, and broken your tackle. Alas

face.

much

the fish you hooked was the consort of mine

he will

not take again.

The

ORN.

gut was bad, for I do not think I

struck too violently.

the

let

me

first fish

What

a loss

How

hard, to

of the kind I ever angled for

escape

There
Behold,

HAL.
ORN.

are probably

more

try again.

the loss was more owing to the

imperfection of the tackle than to my ardour; for

the two end hooks only are gone, and you

the gut worn.

HAL.

The

comment.

hook

If

himself.

thing

is

vou can,

done,
let

When we

judges of the effort

and

is

may

see

not worth

the next fish that rises

are

we make

ardent,

we

are

bad

and an angler who

could be cool with a new species of salmo, I should

SALMO IIUCHO.

ninth day.]

Now

not envy.

all

ay

is

right again

233

try that pool.

and another, that runs at your

There is a fish
more than
bait; but they are small ones, not much
twice as large as the bleak ; yet they show their spirit,
!

and though they cannot swallow it, they have torn it.
Put on another bleak. There, you have another run.
ORN.

Ay,

it is

a small

fish,

not

much more

;
yet he fights well.
You have him, and I will land him.

than

a foot long

HAL.

not think such a

of sport.

He

bad

fish a

initiation into this

does not agitate so

one, and vet gratifies curiositv.

very beautiful fish

though
ORN.

much

There,

kind

as a larger

we have him.

or louse,
yet he has the leech,

his belly is quite white.

This

his peculiarities

a trout, that,

am not convinced, that it is

common trout, altered in many

and I

by the predatory habits of

How

had 1

alone, I should hardly have remarked

not a variety of the

generations,

so like

fish is

caught him when

HAL.

I do

far

the

principle

his ancestors.

of

change

of

character and transmission of such character to the

to determine,
offspring will apply, I shall not attempt

and whether
in their

all

the varieties of the salmo with teeth

mouth may not have been produced from one

original;

yet this fish

is

noiv as distinct

trout, as the cliarr or the

umbla

exists only below great

falls

is

from the

and in Europe,

it

in streams connected

SALMONIA.

234

with the Danube, and

same

is

NISTH day.

never found in rivers of the

connected with the Rhine, or Elbe, or

districts

any of them which empty themselves into the

Mediterranean ; though trout are common in all these

in

and salmon and sea trout in those connected

streams,

with the ocean.

Pallas,

it

According to the descriptions of

occurs in the rivers of Siberia, and probably

exists in those

which run into the Caspian ; and it

it is not found where the eel is usual

remarkable, that

is

at least this applies to all the tributary streams of the

Danube, and, it is said, to the rivers of Siberia.

Wherever I have seen it, there have been always
coarse

fish

chub, white

as

such

rivers containing

bleak,

fish,

&c, and

fish are its natural haunts, for

requires abundance of food, and serves to convert

these indifferent poor fish into a better kind of

it

nourishment

We

man.

for

You

interior of these fish.

will

now examine

see the

stomach

is

the

larger

than that of a trout, and the stomachs of both are

In the larger one there is a chub,

a grayling, a bleak, and two or three small carp.

full of

small

The skin you

fish.

see is thick

those of a trout

it

the scales are smaller than

has no teeth on the palate, and

the pectoral fin has four spines more, which, I think,

enables

it

to turn with

more

His

flesh

is

You

rapidity.

at dinner, that, fried or roasted,

he

will find

a good

fish.

white, but not devoid of curd;

and

is

SAL MO HUCHO.

ninth pay.]

though rather
which

flavour,

than that of a trout, I have

softer

observed in

never

235

it

that

or

muddiness,

peculiar

when

sometimes occurs in trout, even

in perfect season.

I shall say a few words more on the habits of this

fish.

The hucho,

and pursues

violence,

pikes, perfectly

manv

for

still,

minutes, that never

and predatory animals.

moved

they

at

In

all.

this

most carnivorous

It is probably in consequence

these habits, that they are so

lice,

and I have watched one

respect their habits resemble those of

of

foxhound or a

his object as a

I have seen them in repose

does.

greyhound
lie like

seen, preys with great

you have

as

much

infested

by
which I have seen so numerous in

or leeches,

spring as almost to

fill

their gills,

and

interfere with

which case they seek the most

;
rapid and turbulent streams to free themselves from
these enemies.
They are very shy, and after being
in

their respiration

hooked avoid the baited

for

which I was

fishing, follow the small

then the lead of the tackle

fixed his attention,

afterwards.

by

the

I once saw a hucho,

line.

it

roughest

if

this

and

had

at the bait

I think a hucho, that has been pricked

hook,

becomes

particularly

possesses, in this respect, the

salmon.

seemed as

and he never offered

fish,

cautious,

same character

and

as the

In summer, when they are found in the

and most violent currents, their fins

SALMOXIA.

236

[NINTH DAY.

(particularly the caudal fin) often appear

broken ;

worn and

at this season they are usually in constant

motion against the stream, and are stopped by no

cataract or dam, unless it be many feet in height, and

In the middle of September I

quite inaccessible.

have caught huchos perfectly clean in rapid cool

streams, tributary to the Laybach and the Sava
rivers

and, from

the

small development of their

generative system at this time, I have no doubt that

On

they spawn in spring.

the 13th of September,

spinning the dead small

1823, I caught, by

three huchos, that had not a single leech

bodies,

saw

and they were the first

from these parasites.

fish of the

upon

fish,

their

kind I ever

free

ORN.

am

so

much

pleased with

my good fortune

in catching this fish, that I shall try all day

with the

HAL.

bait, for

to-morrow

more of the same kind.

You may

do so

but many of these

fish

cannot be caught ; they migrate generally when the

water is foul, and, except in the spring and autumn,
do not so readilv run at the bait. I was once nearlv

month seeking

one in rivers in which they are

found, between the end of June and that of Juty,
a

for

without being able to succeed in even seeing one alive ;

and as far as my information goes, the two places

where there

is

most probability of taking them, are

Laybach and Eatisbon,

at

in the tributary streams to the

ANGLING.

ninth day.J

Sava, and in the

Danube ; and the

of these situations,

first

is

in the second, in

from rain

either

or

whenever I have been

the fish-market at

at

and

a stream where they

is

stream
the

April,

told, likewise, that the

may be caught, when the water

never fished in this

best time, in the

March and

in

am

May.
which runs by Munich,

Tsar,

237

is

clear

but I have

having been

it

melting

Munich

Munich very

the

of

foul,

snows,

but I have seen in

Late

large huchos.

autumn, or in early spring, this river must be

an interesting one to fish in, as the schiel, or jperca

in the

and three other species olperca are found

schratz
zingel, Fapron, and the perca

lucio perca,

in
all

it

the

fish of prey,

but

them,

European

and excellent food.

never

rivers,

taken them

though

they

are

rare

in

not, like the hucho, peculiar

to the tributary streams of the

is

I have eaten

Danube.

The

schiel

found likewise in the Spree and in the Hungarian

and,

lakes,

Rhone.
POIET.
Isar

it is,

new kind

according to Bloch, the zingel in the

I should like extremely to fish in the

I think, a

new kind

though it is not unknown

But the most exquisite kind

of fish, even

Natural Historians.

of pleasure to take a
to

of

my opinion, would be that of angling in

never fished in by Europeans before ; and I

angling, in

a river

can scarcely imagine sport of a higher kind than that

SALMOXIA.

233

which involves a
a

triple source of pleasure

good food

procuring

fish,

[ninth day.

the

for

catching
table,

Natural

and

the
History,
discovery
making
Sir Joseph Banks, who w as always a
same time.
kind of
great amateur of angling, had often this
in

at

And

gratification.

to

Franklin and Dr.

Captain

Eichardson, in their expedition to the Arctic Ocean,

when they were almost

fly

what a delightful

starving,

must have been, to have taken with a

those large grayling, which they mention, of a new-

circumstance

it

equally beautiful

species,

for the table

good
HAL.

When

a boy, I have

reason

fishing, for this

but the want

fish;

in their

appearance, and

of

felt

an interest in sea

that there was a variety of

skill

in the

amusement

fish by
sinking a bait with a lead and pulling up a
I have
Since
of
it.
tired
me
soon
made
main force,

been a

fly-fisher,

I have rarely fished in the sea, and

then only with a reel and

which

is at least

fine tackle

as interesting

Cockney fishermen, who

in the Thames, which I have
of the

from the rocks,

an amusement
fish for

as that

roach and dace

tried twice in

my

life,

but shall never try again.

PHYS.

You

are severe on

Cocknev fishermen, and,

would apply to them only, the observation

of Dr. Johnson, which on a former occasion you
"
would not allow to be just
Angling is an
I suppose,

ANGLING.

xikthd.vt]

amusement with

a stick

239

and a string

would apply it with this change

and a philosopher at the other."
the Cockney angler appears to

"a

me

worm

at

one

to yourself

you

And

end, and a fool at the other."

fly at

one end,

Yet the pleasure of

of much the same

kind, and perhaps more continuous than yours; and

he has the happiness of constant occupation and

perpetual pursuit in as high a degree as you have ;

and if we were to look at the real foundations of your
pleasure,

we should

foundations of

them, like most

find

human

vanity
happiness

shall never forget the impression

when

of the

or folly.

made upon me some

was standing on the pier at

years ago,
I saw a
the
flowing of the tide
Donegal, watching
lame hoy of fourteen or fifteen years old, very
I

slightly clad,

whom some

persons were attempting to

stop in his progress along the pier

them with

his

crutches,

but he resisted

and, halting along, threw

himself from an elevation of five or six

crutches, and a

little

parcel of

carried under his arm,

times

fell

stones.

feet,

with his

boats, that he

on the sand of the beach.

had to scramble or halt

rocks, before

wooden

at least

He

100 yards, over hard

he reached the water, and he several

down and cut

Being

his

naked limbs on the bare

in the water, he

seemed in an

ecstasy,

and immediately put his boats in sailing order, and

was perfectly inattentive to the counsel and warning

SALMONIA.

240

who shouted

of the spectators,

be drowned.

He

his boats.

[ninth day.

to him, that he

would

His whole attention was absorbed by

had formed an idea, that one should

and when

outsail the rest,

but

this boat

was foremost he

any one of the

others got
was in delight;
beyond it he howled with grief; and once I saw him
throw his crutch at one of the unfavoured boats.

The

if

came in rapidly

tide

he

would have been drowned, but

lost his crutches,

for the care of

and

some

of

he was however wholly inattentive to

his boats.
He is said to be quite
save
any thing
insane and perfectly ungovernable, and will not live

the spectators

in a house, or wear any clothes,

spent in this one business

wooden

fleet

of

How

near this

to an angler,

which he

boats, of

mad youth

who

and

making
is

his

whole

life is

and managing a
sole admiral.

is

to a genius, a hero, or

injures his health

and

risks his life

by going into the water as high as his middle, in the

hope of catching a fish which he sees rise, though he
already has a pannier

HAL.
and

Or

foul, to obtain a

risking his

neck

working by

blue riband.

all

Or

means,

fair

a fox-hunter,

hounds destroy an animal,

be destroyed, and which is

to see the

which he preserves

good

full.

a statesman,

for nothing.

to

Or an aged,

licentious voluptuary,

the powers of a high and cultivated intellect

using
to destroy the innocence of a beautiful virgin, for a
all

AMUSEMENTS.

ninth day.]

transient gratification to

241

render her miserable, and

by making a flaw in an inestimable and

brilliant

gem,

utterly to destroy its value.

PUTS.

You

might go on and

cite

almost

all

the

objects of pursuit of rational beings, as, by distinction,

they

But

are called.

amusement.
angling,

to return to

your favourite

I wonder that, with such a passion for

you have never made an expedition in one

of our whalers

with Captain Scoresby

for instance

you would then have enjoyed sport of a new kind.

HAL. I should like much to see a whale taken,
but I do not think the sight worth the dangers and

privations of such a voyage.

amusing spectacle and

It

would only be an

an enterprise, unless,
I
indeed,
myself employed the harpoon ; and after all
it must be a tedious
operation, that of watching the
not

sinking and rising of a fish obedient to a natural

instinct,

which, in this instance,

is

the cause of his

death.

How
HAL. The whale, having no
POIET.

air bladder,

to the lowest depths of the ocean

can sink

and, mistaking

the harpoon for the teeth of a sword fish or a shark,

he instantly

descends,

this

being his manner

freeing himself from these enemies,

who cannot

of

bear

the pressure of a deep ocean, and from

ascending and
descending in small space, he puts himself in the

SALMONIA.

242

[ninth day.

power of the whaler ; whereas, if he knew his force,

and were to swim on the surface in a straight line, he

would break or destroy the machinery by which he is

arrested, as easily as a salmon breaks the single gut
of a fisher

when

Ins reel is entangled.

POIET. My amusement

in such a voyage, would

be to look for the kraken and the sea snake.

HAL.

You

see them.

POIET.

have a vivid imagination, and might

Then

vou do not believe

of these wonderful animals

UAL.

in the existence

No more than I do

in that of the

merman

or mermaid.

POIET.

Yet we have

histories which

seem authentic,

and there

of these monsters,

of the appearance

not wanting persons

who

assert, that

are

they have seen

the mermaid even in these islands.

HAL.

I do not

disbelieve the authenticity of these stories.

mean

to

deny the existence of large marine

animals having analogies to the serpent ; the conger

I have seen one nearly
we know is such an animal
:

ten feet long, and there

may be

longer ones, but such

animals do not come to the surface.

The only

sea

snake, that has been examined by naturalists, turned

out

to be a putrid

maximus.

Yet

all

species of

shark

the

squalus

the newspapers gave accounts of

this as a real animal,

and endowed

it

with

feet,

which

KRAKEN. MERMAID.

smrraDAT.]

And

do not belong to serpents.

243

the sea snakes,

and Norwegian captains, have,

seen by American

I think, generally been a

and sinking
somewhat the appearance of the

rising

of porpoises, the

company

which in

of

lines

would give

coils

of a snake.

more imaginary.
I have myself seen immense numbers of enormous
urticm marines, or blubbers, in the north seas, and

The kraken,

in

some

or island-fish,

of the

Norwegian

is

still

fiords, or inland bays,

and

colour to

the

often these beautiful creatures give

water;

but

it

is

exceedingly improbable,

animal of this genus should ever be of the

of the whale;

its

that
size,

an

even

soft materials' are little fitted for

locomotion, and would be easily destroyed by every

kind of

fish.

Hands and

a finny

tail,

are entirely

I disbelieve
contrary to the analogy of nature, and

The
mermaid upon philosophical principles.
animals
combining
dugong and manatee are the only
the functions of the mammalia with some of the

the

characters of fishes, that can be imagined, even as a

link, in this part of the order of nature.

these stories have been founded

seal seen at a distance

the

common

seal

others

Many

of

upon the long-haired

on the appearance of

under particular circumstances of

and some on still more singular

light and shade,
A worthv baronet, remarkable for
circumstances.
his benevolent views

and active

spirit,

has propagated
R 2

SALMONIA.

244

[ninth day.

a story of this kind, and he seems to claim for

Iris

native country the honour of possessing this extraor-

dinary animal;

but the mermaid of Caithness was

certainly a gentleman, who, happened to be travelling

on that wild
some young

shore,
ladies

and who was seen bathing by

at so great a distance, that

not

only genus but gender was mistaken. I am acquainted

with him, and have had the story from his own
is a
young man fond of geological
one
and
day in the middle of August,
pursuits,
having fatigued and heated himself by climbing a

mouth.

He

rock, to examine a particular appearance of granite,

Highland guide, who was

and
descended to the sea.
pony,
The sun was just setting, and he amused himself for
some time by swimming from rock to rock, and
he gave

his clothes to his

taking care of

Iris

having unclipt hair and no cap, he sometimes threw

aside his locks, and wrung the water from them on

He happened the year after to be at

and
was sitting at table with two young
Harrowgate,
ladies from Caithness, who were relating to a wonderthe rocks.

ing audience the story of the mermaid they had seen,

which had already been published in the newspapers.

They described her

as

she usually

is

described by

poets, as a beautiful animal, with a remarkably fair

skin

and long green

hair.

The young gentleman

took the liberty, as most of the rest of the company

MERMAID.

ninth day.]

put a few questions to the elder of the two

did, to

ladies

245

such

this singular

on what day, and precisely where

She had
phenomenon had appeared.

as,

noted down, not merely the day, but the hour and

and produced a map of the

minute,

place.

Our

bather referred to his journal, and showed that a

human animal was swimming

very time, who had some of
to the

mermaid, but who

in the very spot at that

the characters ascribed

laid

no claim to others,

fish's
particularly the green hair and

tail

rather sallow in the face, was glad to

testimony to

colour

the

garments.
POIET.

But

all

We

his

but being
have such

body beneath

his

do not understand upon what

philosophical principles

mermaid.

of

you deny the existence of the

are not necessarily acquainted with

the animals that inhabit the bottom of the sea;

and I cannot help thinking there must have been

some foundation for the fable of the Tritons and
Nereids.

HAL.

Ay;

and Amphitrite

and

of the ocean divinities,

Neptune

Now I think you

HAL. I remember
worthy
POIET.

are prejudiced.

the

baronet,

whom

now

mentioned, on some one praising the late

just
Sir Joseph Banks very highly, said, u Sir
Joseph was
an excellent man but he had his prejudices. "

SALMONIA.

246

What

were they?

said

my

friend.

not believe in the niermaid."

Pray

did Sir Joseph

as the baronet

[ninth day.

he did

"Why,
still

me

consider

prejudiced on

this

subject.

ORN.

But

give us

some reasons

of tins
sibility of the existence

HAL.

much

Nay,

of

animal.

I did not say impossibility

Walton

the school of Izaac

It

impossibility.

make

a mermaid

make

one.

to

am

too

talk

of

doubtless might please God to

but I do not believe God ever did

And why
HAL.Because wisdom and order
ORN.

for the impos-

are

found in

all

and the parts of animals are always in

harmony with each other, and always adapted to

his works,

certain ends consistent with the analogy of nature

and a human

head,

human

hands,

human

and

mammae, are wholly inconsistent with a fish's tail.

The human head is adapted for an erect posture, and
in such a posture an animal with a fish's tail could
not swim ; and a creature with lungs must be on the
surface several times in a day

and

inconvenient breathing place

and hands are

ments of manufacture

the depths of the ocean

are

little fitted

and

the sea

for fabricating that mirror

is

instru-

which our

old prints gave to the mermaid.

Such an animal,

created, could not long

and, with

exist

an

if

scarcely

MERMAID.

ninth day.]

247

any locomotive powers, would be the prey of other

fishes, formed in a manner more suited to their
I have seen a most absurd fabrication of a

element.

mermaid, exposed as a show in London, said to have

been found in the Chinese seas, and bought for a

The head and bust of two

money.
different apes were fastened to the lower part of a
kipper salmon, which had the fleshy fin, and all the
large

sum

of

distinct characters, of the salmo salar.

ORN.

And

yet there were people

who

believed

be a real animal.

tins to

HAL.

was insisted on, to prove the truth of

But what is there which people
the Caithness story.
will

It

not believe

POIET.

In

listening to your conversation

and have
forgotten our angling,
fine

lost

we have

some moments

of

cloudy weather.

HAL.

I thought you were

tired of catching trouts

and graylings, and I therefore did not urge you to

continue your fly-fishing ; and this part of the river
does not contain so

but

many

grayling as the pools above

there are good trout, and

it is

possible there

Let me recommend to you to put on

may be huchos.
minnow tackle that tackle with the five small hooks ;
and, as we have minnows and bleaks, you may

in half an
perhaps hook trout, or even huchos ; and
I
hour our fish dinner at the inn will be ready.

SALMONIA.

248

[ninth day.

shall return there, to see that all is right,

expect you when you have

[They

EAL.
I

all meet in the dining-room,

Well, what

left

you
POIET.

and

shall

finished your fishing.

of

the inn.]

sort of sport have

you had

since

We have each caught

a trout

and two large

chubs, and have had two or three runs besides

but

we saw no huchos

and though several large grayling

;
rose in one of the streams, and we tried to catch them

by spinning the minnow in every possible way, yet

they took no notice of our bait.

HAL.
anglers
it

is

Tins

is

I have heard of

usually the case.

who have taken

grayling with minnows, but

a rare occurrence, and never happened to me.

Your

dinner, I dare say,

know

it is

vegetables

is

now

ready

and you

a dinner entirely of the genus salmo, with

and

fruit.

You

have hucho from the

Traun, and charr from Aussee, and trout from the

Traun

See, that were brought alive to the inn, and

have only just been killed and crimped, and are now
boiling in salt and water ; and you have likewise

grayling and laverets from the Traun See, winch are

equally fresh, and will be fried.

PETS.

think,

in this part

the art of carrying and keeping fish

than in England.

of the continent,
is

better understood

Every inn has a box containing

METHOD OF CONVEYING

kinth day.]

and no one thinks of carrying or

A fish

fish for a dinner.

dead

sendino;

cool water, which

is

of the fisherman.

barrel full of

replenished at every fresh source

amonsyst these mountains,

And

is

on the shoulders

carried

the

with bullock's

wells, are fed

249

which water from

or charr, into
grayling, trout, carp,

a spring runs

FISH.

when confined

fish,

liver,

in

cut into fine pieces,

so that thev are often in better season in the tank or

when they were

stew than
grayling,

I have seen trout,

taken.

and charr even, feed voraciously, and take

from the hand. These methods of

their food almost

carrying and preserving fish have,

from

adopted

Admondt,

in

the

monastic

Styria,

I believe, been

At

establishments.

attached

to

the

magnificent

monastery of that name, are abundant ponds and

reservoirs for every species of fresh- w ater fish; and
r

the charr, grayling, and trout are preserved in different waters

key.

POIET.

mode
I

am

covered,

enclosed,

and under lock and

admire in this country not only the

fish, but

of preserving, carrying, and dressing

with
delighted, generally,

the

habits

of

life

It is a
of the peasants, and with their manners.
the scenery is
country in which I should like to live ;
so beautiful, the people so amiable and good-natured,

and

their attentions to strangers so

and disinterestedness.

marked by courtesy

SALMONIA.

250

PHYS.
but

They appear

seem to be

all classes

POIET.
certainly

There

me

very amiable and good

little

instructed.

are few philosophers

amongst them,

but they appear very happy, and

Where

We

to

[ninth day.

ignorance

be wise.

folly to

is bliss, 'tis

have neither seen nor heard of any instances of

we have been here. They fear their God,

crime since

love their sovereign, are obedient to the laws, and

seem perfectly contented. I know you would contrast

them with the active and educated peasantry of the
but I believe
England
they are much happier, and I am sure they are

manufacturing

of

districts

generally better.

PHYS.

I doubt

this

well as of benevolence,

POIET.

am

the sphere of enjoyment, as

enlarged by education.

is

I think the system

sorry to say

God

carried too far in England.

forbid, that

useful light should be extinguished

who wish

for education receive

it

but

any
Let persons

it

me, that, in the great cities in England,

were, forced

upon

which the lower

the population

acquire, are presented

to

as

it

sciences,

them, in consequence of

idle

and conceited and above

their usual laborious occupations.

of the tree of knowledge

and that

is,

can only very superficially

classes

which thev often become

appears to
it

is,

The unripe

fruit

I believe, always bitter or

EDUCATION.

ninth day.]

sour;

251

and scepticism and discontent

sicknesses

the mind
HAL. Surely

are often the results of devouring

of

it.

you cannot have a more religious,

more moral, or more improved population than that
of Scotland

POIET.

In Scotland education

Precisely so.

is

not forced upon the people ; it is sought for, and it

is connected with their forms of faith, acquired in
the bosoms of their families, and generally pursued

with a distinct object of prudence or interest

nor

is

that kind of education wanting in this country.

PHYS.

Where

never.

POIET.

Pardon

out a prayer-book

book

me
;

innocent and happy

rarely seen, a

is

there

and I

men

is

newspaper

not a cottage with-

am

not sorry that these

are not made active and

tumultuous subjects of King Press, whom I consider

as the most capricious, depraved, and unprincipled
tyrant, that ever existed in
for

Depraved

it

voice of the lowest

because,

bought by great wealth ; capricious

sometimes follows, and sometimes forms,

to be

it is

because
the

England.

when

its

mob

and unprincipled

interests are concerned, it sets at

defiance private feeling

and private character, and

neither regards virtue, dignity, nor purity.

HAL.

My

know you

friends,

differ

you

essentially

are

on

growing warm
this

subject;

but

SALMONIA.

252

you

surely

[ninth day.

will allow that the full liberty of the press,

even though

sometimes degenerates into licentiousit

may sometimes be improperly

it

and though

ness,

used by the influence of wealth, power, or private

favour, is yet highly advantageous, and even essential
to the existence of a free country

may

be to the population,

the government

w hom,
r

to

it

and, useful as

more useful

is still

as expressing the voice of

the people, though not always vox Dei,

as

regarded

oracular

or

prophetic.

change our conversation, which

nor place.
POIET.

This

sport

HAL.

must

river

I have nowhere seen so

However

full

it

to

a river

us

let

neither in time

is

be

may be

it

But

inexhaustible

many

for

fish.

may be

of trout

and

grayling, there is a certain limit to the sport of the

angler,

if

continuous fishing be adopted in the same

turn made acquainted by

diurnal habit with the artificial fly, and either taken

pools.

Every

fish is in its

or rendered cautious

so that in a river fished

much

by one or two good anglers, many fish cannot be

caught, except under peculiar circumstances of very
windy, rainy, or cloudy weather,

come on;

when many

flies

or at night, or at the time the water

slightly coloured by a flood, or

when

fish

is

change

their haunts

in consequence of a great inundation.

In the Usk,

in

Monmouthshire, when

it

was very

ninth day.]

EFFECT OF CONTINUOUS FISHING.

full of fish, in

flies

were on the water,

usual for some excellent anglers,

party of nine,

when

the best fishing time,

brown and dun

and who

253

the spring
it

was not

who composed

fished in this river for ten

continuous days, to catch more than two or three fish

But one day, when the water was
each person.
coloured by a flood, in which case the artificial fly
could not be distinguished by the fish from the
natural

I caught twelve or fourteen of the same

fly,

had been in the habit of refusing my flies

many days successively. This was in the end of
March, 1809, when the flies always came on the
that

fish,

for

water with great regularity ; the blues in dark days,

the browns in bris-ht davs, between twelve and

two

o' clock

where the
all

artificial fly

and in

their

taste the steel

"
;

turn, to

use an angler's phrase,

but even very imperfect imitations

and coarse tackle, winch are only successful

or

rivers

has never been used, I believe

the fish will mistake good imitations for natural

flies,

"

In

the middle of the day.

in

in

turbid water,

cautious.

Tins I

difference of the

am

are

sufficient

convinced

of,

to

at night,

render

fish

by observing the

habits of fish in strictly

preserved

streams, and in streams where even peasants have

I might quote the

where the native fishermen used three

fished with the coarsest tackle.

Traun

at Ischl,

or four of the coarsest flies

on the coarsest hair links

SALMONIA.

254

made

[ninth day.

of four or five or six hairs,

and the Traun,

at

Gmiinden, where they are not allowed to fish ; the

fish that rose took with much more certainty at

Gmiinden than
are

flies

at

Ischl.

At

time

when many

on, particularly large ones, a few days of

continuous fishing, even with a single rod, will soon

make

the sport indifferent in the best rivers;

larger and the deeper the

the

continues, because

and

sionally,

fish

pricked

the longer

their

stations

occa-

leave

their

change
sometimes

fish

haunts, which are occupied by others

more disposed

are

As

instances

of

to

but

river,

it

and graylings

change their places than trouts.

the

difference

in

this

respect

between large and small rivers, I may quote the

Yockla and the Agger in Upper Austria.
The
of these rivers,

when I

fished in

in 1818,
and grayling, and I believe I was
the first person, for at least many years, that had
It is a small
ever thrown an artificial fly upon it.
first

Mas

it

full of trout

stream,

from eight to

fifteen

yards wide, and can

every where be commanded by the double-handed

The first day that
rod, and is generally shallow.
I fished in this stream, which was in the beginning
of

August, at every throw I hooked a fish, and I

out and restored again to their element in

took

the course of a few hours more than one hundred

and

fifty

trout

and

grayling.

The next day

DIFFERENCE OF RIVERS.

ninth dat.J

255

the same places, but with a very different

fished in

result; I caught only half a dozen large fish:

the

same ground, I had

third morning, going over the

great difficulty even to get a brace of fish for

mv

dinner, and those, as well as I recollect, I caught by

throwing in places which had not been fished before.

I ought to mention, that the space of water where
this

experiment was made did not exceed half a mile

in length.
a

much

I shall

now speak

larger and deeper

of the Agger, which

river than the Yockla,

is

and

cannot be commanded in any part by a double-handed

from forty to sixty yards across.

time I fished tins river, I had the same kind

rod, being at least

The

first

of sport as in the

Yockla

the second day, under the

same favourable circumstances, there were fewer

than on the

and

sport;

difficult to

seek

new

rises

day, but still sufficient to give good

was the fourth day before it became

first
it

catch a good dish of

water.

The

fish,

and necessary to

greater depth of the water, and

the change of place of the

fish,

particularly the gray-

ling, explain this, to say nothing of the greater

num-

ber of fish which the larger river contained.

I am,

of course, speaking of one of the best periods of

flyfishing,
easily

when many large

flies,

of

which imitations are

found, have been on the water.

bad season

for fly-fishing in

have thrown great

In spring

(a

high iVlpine countries) I

varieties

of

flies

on these two

SALM0N1A.

256

[ninth day.

highly stocked streams, and have found

get a brace of
grayling were

all

any winged food

fish

for the table,

to

it difficult

and

as the trout

lying at the bottom, not expecting

at this season.

river that runs into a large

lake affords, at

it

junction with the lake, by far the best place for continuous angling, particularly for trout in autumn.

The

fish are constantly

river for the

running up the

purpose of spawning, and every day offers a succession

of

new

shoals, of

which many

many, because at

this season

will take the fly

some

I say

of the fish, parti-

cularly the females, are capricious, and refuse a bait,

of which, under other circumstances, they are greedy.

may

from a

say the same with respect to the exit of a river

lake, to

which successions of

fishes resort,

and

though trout are found abundantly in such places,

yet they are often

still

better places for grayling

when

these fish exist in the lake, the tendency of grayling

being rather, as I said on another occasion, to descend

than to ascend waters, whilst that of the trout

is

The same principles apply to salmon

the contrary.
and sea-trout fishing, which run up rivers from basins
of the sea

the best situations for continuous angling

where there

are those parts of the river

of fishes

from the

POIJst.

with the

fly

a succession

tide.

You spoke
in

is

just

Austria

now
I

of peasants fishing

thought

this

art

was

ANGLING FOR FROGS.

ninth day.]

entirely English

257

and though I have travelled much,

to have seen
fly-fishing

do not recollect ever

by native anglers abroad.

practised

HAL.

I assure

artificial fly

you there

are

in different parts of

fishers

with the
Ger-

Switzerland,

many, and Illyria, though always with rude tackle,

and usually upon rapid streams. Besides the Traun, I
can mention the Rhine, the Ehone, and the Drave, as
where I have seen fish caught with rude

rivers

imitations of

flies

used by native anglers.

In

Italy,

where trout and grayling are very rare, and only

found amongst the highest mountain chains, I have
never seen any

fly-fishers

but near Ravenna I have

sometimes seen anglers for frogs, who threw their

bait exactly as we throw a fly, and
caught great

numbers of these animals

apparatus surprised

using

and the nature of

their

than their method of

hook and

instead of a

it;

me more

bait,

they employed

a small dry frog, tied to a long piece of twine, the

forelegs of

which projected

like

two hooks, and

this

they threw at a distance, by means of a long rod.

The
frog,

and gorged the small dry

which they were pulled out of

frogs rose like fish

by the

legs of

I was informed by one of these fishermen

sometimes took two hundred frogs in this

the water.
that he

way

in a morning,

any bait

when

and that the frogs never swallowed

or apparently dead, but
caught at

still

SALMON!A.

253

[ninth day.

whatever was moving or appeared alive on the surface

of the water ; so that tins reptile feeds like a nobler
animal, the eagle, only on living prey.*

POIET.

You

Ash Wednesday,
fish in

Rome,

a great day for the consumption of

I remember to have seen some large

which, I

trout,

say trout are rare in Italy, yet on

was

told,

were from the Yelino,

above the Falls of Terni.

HAL.

once went almost to the source of tins

above Rieti, in the hopes of catching trout, but

river,

I saw

I was unsuccessful.

some taken by

but

nets,

the fish were too few, and the river too foul, from the
deposition of calcareous matter, to render

In

stream for the angler.

it

a good

journey I saw some

tins

trout in brooks in the Sabine country, that I dare

but they were

the brook trout of England. In these

say might have been taken by the

small,

and

like

fly

streams, as well as in the Yelino

and other

torrents, I

found the water-ouzel, which, as

far as

knowledge

extends,

is

believe feeds
[* In

much upon

my work

the same larvae of water-flies.

on the Ionian Islands, another kind of angling is

an aerial kind for

noticed as practised there, and that with the fly

In spring, when these hirds

swallows.

my

always a companion of the trout, and I

first

arrive,

and then crowd

about the lofty cliffs of the little island of Paxo, the natives, standing
or sitting on the dizzy margin, take them, when on the wing, with
the bait mentioned, attached to a
into the
fishing.

air,

J.

very

D.]

much

in

the

fine

hook and

same manner

as

line,

in

throwing

ordinary

it

fly-

CHAER.

sixth day.]

OR.v.

These

259

little

singular

witnessed, walk under water.

them running beneath the

streams, and passing from

have

as

birds,

I have often watched

surface of the

stone

however, by means of air-pump

to

sides

stone;

not,

I had once

feet, as

conjectured, but by laying hold with their claws

stones and the projecting parts of rocks.

they were then in the act of searching

upon,

of

of

I conclude

for,

or feeding

larvae.

HAL.

suppose

so,

and I hope Ornither

will

shoot one to give us an opportunity of examining the

and of knowing with

contents of their stomachs,

certainty the nature of their food.

PHYS.

The

excellent fish,

charr

and

is,

is

most

HAL.
are

They

generally haunt deep cool lakes, and

seldom found

When

autumn.

Is he

of course, a fish of prey.

not an object of sport to the angler

and

beautiful

at

the

surface

late

till

in the

they are at the surface, however,

they will take either fly or

minnow.

I have

known

some caught in both these ways; and have myself

taken

even

charr,

in

summer, in one of those

beautiful, small, deep lakes in the

Nassereit;

but

it

from the mountain

swallowed the

and the

artificial fly
*

Upper

Tyrol, near

was where a cool stream entered

fish

did not

under water.

rise,

but

The charr

Salmling of the Germans.

s2

is

260

SALMONIA.

[ninth day.

Charr of Windermere.

Gwyniad, or Schelly of

Han es

Water.

Charr of Hawes Water,

UMBLA.

NINTH DAY.]

in

always

different

countries there are

I do not

tint.

a very brilliant

colour

its

261

many

remember ever

fish,

but in

varieties in the

to have seen

beautiful fish than those of Aussee, which,

more

when

in

perfect season, have the lower fins and the belly of

the brightest vermilion, with a white line on the

outside of the pectoral, ventral, anal, and lower part

of the caudal

fin,

and with vermilion

spots,

surrounded

by the bright olive shade of the sides and back

dorsal fin in the cliarr has

the

1 spines, the pectoral 14,

the ventral 9, the anal 10, and the caudal 20.

have fished for them in

many

lakes, without success,

both in England and Scotland, and also amongst the

Alps ; and I am told the only sure way of taking

them

is

by sinking a

line with a bullet,

minnow

having a live

attached to

and in

water which they usually haunt;

likewise, I have

it,

and a hook
in the deep

no doubt the umbla, or ombre

this

way,

chevalier,

*
might be taken.
POIET.
I have never happened to see this fish.
HAL. It is verv like a charr in form, but

is

without spots, and has a white and silvery belly.

On the table, its flesh cuts white or cream-colour,
*

In the lakes of

cliarr

is

with a
in

found, the

minnow

is

successfully used

Crummock Water

the

net. J. D.]

Westmoreland and Cumberland, in which the

of taking it varies in Windermere trolling

manner

it

in

Hawes Water

refuses all baits, and

is

the artificial

fly

never caught except iu

SALMONIA.

262

and

it is

[ninth day.

exceedingly like charr in flavour.

Feb.

1,

1827, one was brought me from the lake of Bourget,

in Savoy; it was said to be small for this fish
it

Umbla.

was 15 inches long, and

the dorsal fin there were
in the ventral 8, in

HAL. From

POIET.

Is

it

J in circumference.

In

2 spines, in the pectoral 9,

the anal 11, and in the caudal 24.

found in

this country ?

some descriptions I have heard of

certain species of the salmo found in the

Maun

See,

Traun

See, and Leopoldstadt See, I think it is.

Bloch says, that it is peculiar to the lakes of Geneva

and Neufchatel;

but what I have just said must

convince you of the inaccuracy of this statement, as

I dare say the fish exists in other deep waters of a
like character

amongst the Alps.

It

is

a fish closely

LA VERET.

kixth day.]

allied

to the

charr,

253

and congenerous both in form

and habits.*

PHTS.

You mentioned, among

the laveret

HAL.

I never heard of this

It

a fish

is

known

in

the fish for dinner,

fish before.

England by the name

by that
of gwyniacl ; in Ireland, by that of pollan ; and in
In colour it is most like
Scotland, by that of vendis.
of shelley, or fresh-water herring

in Wales,

a grayling, but with broader and larger scales

common
and is known

it is

in the large lakes of most Alpine countries,

Geneva by the name

at

of ferra ;

believe that the salmo caruleus, or salmo

and I

Wartmannl

of Bloch, or the gang-fisch of the lake of Constance,

from a comparison that I made of it with the ferra,

It sometimes is as
a variety of the same fish.

is

large as 2lbs.
or broiled,

and when quite

The

like a grayling.

appeared to
in

the

fresh,

an exceedingly good

is

me

fins.

fish,

and

fried

calvers

laveret of different lakes has

to vary in the

One,

and well

number

of the spines

brought me from

the lake of

Zurich, 13 inches long, and 8 inches in girth, had

12 spines in the dorsal

fin,

15 in the pectoral fins,

anal, and 18 in the

11 in the ventral, 13 in the

caudal.

The

gang-fisch, from the lake of Constance,

[* According to

M.

Agassiz, the

ombre

chevalier

and the charr of

the lakes of the north of England, are merely varieties of the

species, putting aside colour as of

character.]

no importance in relation

same

to specifio

SALMOXIA.

2b4

[ninth day.

which was of a bluer colour, but, I think decidedly,

only a variety of the same fish, was 7| inches long,

and 4 in

girth,

had 12 spines in the dorsal

fin,

15 in

the pectoral, 11 in the ventral, 12 in the anal, and

18 in the caudal.

from the Traun See,

laveret,

had 12 spines in the dorsal fin, 17 in the pectoral,

13 in the ventral fin, 12 in the anal fin, and 24 in
the caudal
larger

fin.

and broader

laveret of the
less in

One from

the

fish,

Traun

the Halstadt See* was a

but did not

differ

from the

two spines

See, except in having

tail.

HAL. I
POIET.

vegetables;

Is this fish ever taken with the line ?

believe

with nets.

only

It

feeds on

and in the stomachs of those I have

opened, I have never found either

flies

or small fishes.f

AT TABLE.
ORN.

Now the hucho

is

dressed, and

on the same

table with other species of the salmo, I perceive his

peculiarities

more

distinctly;

and,

in

those you have mentioned, he appears to

a stronger upper jaw,

addition

me

to

to have

and a larger projection of bone

below the orbit of the eye.

This,

its

* See
Vignette, page 115.
supposed manner of feeding, is doubtful.

the end of the volume.

J.

D.]

See note

at

0RGAX1SAT10X OF THE HUCIIO.

xinth day.]

HAL.

He

has

and

you

find

will

265

similar

character in the pike and perch, and, I believe, in

most

fishes of

prey

and the use of

it

seems to be, to

strengthen the fulcrum of the lever on which the

lower jaw moves, so as to afford the means of greater

strength to the whole muscular apparatus, by means
of which the fish seizes his prey.

POIET.

These

fishes,

then, are analogous to the

predatory animals of the feline genus, which have this

part of the head exceedingly strong

and

it is

here

that the craniologists or phrenologists fix the organ of

courage
offer

does not this extensive chain of analogies

an argument in favour of

generally unpopular doctrine

PHYS.

In my

opinion,

this long-agitated

and

it offers,

like

most of the

which have been brought forward to prove the

truths of the view of Gall and Spurzheim, an
facts

argument rather unfavourable, when thoroughly and

minutely examined.
POIET.
How ?

PHYS. In

these rapacious and predatory animals,

the organisation of the head

must be connected with

the functions of the jaws, as the construction of the

shoulder-blade must be related to the use of the fore

being intended to strike and seize by

must
have a powerful support and a strong
talons,
bony apparatus in the shoulder, which might as well
leg, %which,

SALMOXIA.

206

[ninth day.

be called the organ of courage as the projection below

the frontal bone
but these animals have no more
:

what

called courage in

is

man, than they have what

called reason
they face danger when they are
hungry, but almost always fly when their appetite is
satisfied
a hen, in defending her chickens against a

is

powerful dog, or the game cock, in fighting for the

female, or the timid stag in the rutting season, shows
quite as

much

royal tiger.

is

the result of strong passions

Courage
and in
;

or strong motives

man

usually results from

it

the love of glory or the fear of shame

to

me

most ferocious

of this quality as the

and

it

appears

a perfectly absurd idea, that of connecting

with an organ which

is

it

merely intended to assist the

predatory habits and the mastication of a carnivorous

animal.

HAL.

I agree

with Physicus in this view of the

I once heard a physiologist of some reputa-

subject.

tion deducing an

argument in favour of craniology,

from the form of the skull of the beaver, which he
called

constructive

animal,

and contended, that

there was something of the same character in the

skulls of distinguished architects

beaver

is

so formed, that he

for cutting

dam

and

down
if this

is

now, the skull of the

able to use his jaws

the trees with which he makes his

analogy were correct, the architect

ought unquestionably to employ

Ins

teeth for the

CRANIOLOGY.

ninth day.]

and though

same purpose;

guished men, who have been

267

have known distin-

in the habit of using

knives for cutting furniture with a sort of nervous

restlessness of hand, I do not recollect to have heard

of the teeth being employed in the

think

would be quite

it

architectural

part of the

or constructive

body

the

tail,

same way

and I

find

to

correct

as

the

organ in the opposite

as the beaver

makes a more

ingenious use of this part than even of Ins mouth.*

Pray, have you ever observed, Poietes, any particular
protuberance in the nether parts of any of our
distinguished architects

POIET.

am

not a craniologist

but I would

have the doctrine overturned by facts, and not by

and I have certainly seen some remarkable

instances, which were favourable to the system.
ridicule

HAL

My

experience

is

entirely

on the opposite

[* According to the popular idea, which hy Hearne has heen

In his work, "A Journey to the Northern
to be erroneous.

shown

Ocean," published in 1795, a

account

is

given

of the

full,

habits

and, I believe the

of this

intelligent

first,

accurate

and interesting

At the same time that he sweeps away the fictions of its

romantic history, he describes particulars not less marvellous, as to the
manner of its constructing its dwelling-places, with their entrances

animal.

under water, and their dams on the equalising principle of mill-dams,

It is not the
to secure that these should be always under water.
tail

structurally

unfit

that

the

beaver

employs

in

its

works,

"displaying a degree of sagacity and foresight of approaching evils

to that of the human species," but its teeth and
little inferior
paws.

J.

D.]

SALMONIA.

2G8

[ninth day.

and I once saw a distinguished craniolo<*ist in

error on a point which he considered as the most
side

He

decided.

was shown two children, one of

whom

was possessed of great mathematical

acquirements,
the other of extraordinary musical taste.

With

the

utmost confidence he pronounced judgment, and was

mistaken.

It appeared to me, that, whilst he

examining the two heads, he

hummed an

air,

was

which,

being out of tune, was not responded to by the

musical child, but somehow struck the fancy of the

mathematical one.
ORN.

This hucho

I can praise

all

is a
very good fish, and, indeed,
the varieties of the salmo on the

table that I have yet tasted.

PHYS.
I think,

Amongst them, I

prefer the charr, which,

even better than the best fresh salmon I

is

ever tasted.

POIET.
of curd

This

charr

I wonder at

is

its

surprisingly red
fat

it

and

full

comes from the

Griindtl See, which is a high

Alpine lake, covered
with ice more than half the year what food can the
:

fish find in so

HAL.
lake

pure and cold a water

Minnows and small chubs

and the

flies

which haunt

it

are found in this

in

summer have

been aquatic larvae in the autumn, winter, and

spring; and there are usually great quantities of
small

shell

fish,

which

live in the

deeper parts of

FAT AND FLESH OF HUCHO.

ninth day.1

this

so that

water;

charr

may

269

find food even in

winter; and cold, or the repose to which

it

leads,

seems favourable to the development or conservation

of

Most

fat.

seal,

of the polar animals (the whale, morse,

and white bear,

for instance) are loaded

with

and the salmon of the Arctic Ocean

this substance;

are remarkable for their quantity of curd

those that

run up the rivers in Russia from the White Sea are

said to be fatter and better than those caught in the
streams which run into the Baltic.
ORN.
charr

agree with Physicus in his praise of the

we

indebted to

are

you

for

an excellent

entertainment.

HAL.

At

given you a

Lintz,
fish

on the Danube, I could have

dinner of a different description,

which you might have liked

as a variety.

The four

kinds of perch, the spiegelkarpfen, and the silurus

and which I am sorry we have

not in England, where I doubt not they might be
easily naturalised, and they would form an admirable

glanis)

all

addition

good

to

the

fish,

table

in

inland

counties.

Since

England has become Protestant, the cultivation of

fresh-water

fish

burbot, or lotte,

has been

much

which already

neglected.

exists in

is

a most

without

much

streams tributary to the Trent, and which

admirable
difficulty

fish,

might be

diffused

The

some of the

and nothing could be more easy than to

SALM02SIA.

270

[ninth day.

and silurus ; and I

naturalise the spiegelkarpfen

see

no reason why the perca lucio perca and zingel should

not succeed in some of our clear lakes and ponds,

which abound in coarse

fish.

The new

Zoological

Society, I hope, will attempt something of this kind

be a better object than introducing birds

and beasts of prey though I have no objection to

and

will

it

any sources of rational amusement or philosophical

curiosity.

POIET.

fish

such as you have just

as we have en-

dinner

described, combined with one such

joyed to-day, might, I think, be made an interesting

experimental lecture on natural history.
of the different species

and genera of

The analogies

fishes, so distinct

in the form of their organs, are likewise

the appearance and taste of their flesh.

marked

in

The salmon

and the charr may be regarded as the generic types

of the salmo.
By trout, which have sometimes red

and sometimes white

the grayling and hucho.

is

By

the grayling the trout

connected with the laveret, and by the laveret the

The
connected with the carp genus.
immediately connected with the grayling and

genus salmo
charr

is

laveret
is

they are connected with

flesh,

is

by the umbla.

the sea trout the salmon

By

connected with the trout

and by the hucho, with

the pike and perch families.

HAL.

AVe

will arrange

a dinner

of this kind in

ninth

THE TRA UX.

..av.]

271

England, and by means of it follow the analogies of

But the time for our
salt and fresh water fishes.
is

parting

almost arrived.

of this old wine of the

Let us drink
Danube

a glass each

to our next

happy

the Fall of
meeting, and go and take a last look of
Traun, whilst our carriages are preparing.
[They walk

HAL.

to the

rock above the Fall of the Traun.']

See, the cataract is

the river above

is

now

in great beauty

coloured by the setting sun, and

the glow of the rosy light on the upper stream is

with the tints
beautifully and wonderfully contrasted
of the cataract below.
so fine?

POIET.

The

lights

Have you
are

ever seen anything

beautiful;

but I

have

certainlv seen a finer combination of features in the

Tall of the Velino, at Terni,

clear

though that water

but, even with this defect,

most perfect of European

it

is

is

not

certainly the

This cascade of the

falls.

Traun, though not so elevated as that of Terni, and

not so large as that of Schaffhausen, yet, from
perfect clearness,

its

and the harmony of the surrounding

objects, ranks high, as to picturesque effect,

amongst

the waterfalls of Europe; and the wonderful trans-

parency of

charm in

its

my

pale-green water gives

eyes,

enhanced as

of the glowing western sky;

it

is

it

a peculiar

now by

and the

the light

tints of the

SALMONIA.

272

of

its

on

iris

quadrant

its

[ninth day.

spray are not brighter than those

stream and foam.

ORN.

We

have

now

followed this water at least

and wherever we have seen

thirty miles,

it,

it

has

always displayed the same characters of clearness and

rapidity

and white foam; and we

from the snowy mountains of Styria

of green stream

have traced

it

of

to the plains

Austria, where

Upper

purify the darker Danube.

its

preserved

How

is it,

so

transparency, though

tributary streams have been foul,

it

serves to

that

many

either

it

of

has
its

from the

thunder storm, or from the sudden melting of snows ?

HAL. The three small lakes and the two larger

ones,
this.

and

which are in

fact its reservoirs, are the cause of

The Grundtl See

this lake is fed

Lammer

furnishes

its

by two others

principal stream,

Toplitz See and

and the tributary streams, which unite

at Aussee, from Alten Aussee and Oden See, though
one is blue and the other yellow, yet combine to give
See

a tint, which

is

nearly the same as that from the

stream of the Grundtl See, and which the river retains

throughout

its

course.

Yet I have seen even

this

but only in a part of its course, below

once
at that place, when the thunder
I was

river very foul,

Ischel.

storm of a night having washed the dust of the roads

it was
extremely turbid from Ischel

into the river,

to the

Traun

See.

It

rendered

the

upper part

sixth

COLOUR OF WATER.

d.vt.]

273

of this

large lake coloured; but, notwithstanding

the
river came from the lower part of it perthis,
fectly clear,
fly,

which

and
at

fish

caught

in

there with a

it

entrance into the lake was quite

its

impossible.

POIET.

You,

Halieus,

must

certainly have con-

sidered the causes which produce the colours of waters.

The streams

of our

own

island are of a very different

colour from these mountain rivers, and

why should

the same element or substance assume such a variety

of tints ?

HAL

I certainly have often thought upon the

subject, and I have made some observations and one

experiment in relation to

it.

will give

you my

opinions with pleasure, and, as far as I know, they

have not been brought forward in any of the works

on the properties

of water, or on its consideration as

The purest water with which we

a chemical element.
are acquainted

undoubtedly that which falls from

Having touched air alone, it can

is

the atmosphere.

contain nothing but what

sphere, and
1

it is distilled

mpurities, which

artificial

may

operation.

it

gains

from the atmo-

without the chance of those

exist in the vessels

We

cannot well

used in an

examine the

water precipitated from the

atmosphere, as rain, without collecting it in vessels, and all artificial contact
gives

more

or less

of contamination

but in snow,
T

SALMONIA.

274

[ninth day.

melted by the sunbeams, that has fallen on glaciers,

themselves formed from frozen snow, water may be
regarded as in

its

state of greatest purity.

and

tion expels both salts

air

Congela-

from water, whether

existing below, or formed in, the atmosphere

and in

the high and uninhabited regions of glaciers, there

can

be

scarcely

anv substances

Removed from animal and

contaminate.

to

vegetable

they are

life,

and though there

;
which the rudest kind of vegetation

even above the mineral kingdom

are instances in

fungus or mucor kind)

(of the

snows, yet this

which
a

is

occasioned by

is

is

even found upon

a rare occurrence; and red snow,

an extraordinary and not

it, is

common phenomenon

towards the pole, and on the

highest mountains of the globe.

Having examined
the water formed from melted snows on glaciers in
different parts of the Alps,
it

of the

and

water,

when
seen

same

it

describe

has

tlrrough,

is

greater or less

or

less

objects

them.
of

bright

as

it

Its

blue

and,

qualities,

as

are

its

it

insipidity,

not

at

pure

colour,
it

according

depth of substance,

of this colour

physical

characters.

its

any depth, or when a mass of

its

other

and having always found

quality, I shall consider

this

is

to

has more

and

its

moment

I shall not dwell upon

In general, in examining lakes and masses
of

your inquiry,

water in

high

mountains,

their

colour

is

of

COLOUR OF WATER.

six!.; dav.]

the same bright azure.

that the water

When

tint.

And

on the Polar

275

Captain Parry

grow in lakes, the colour

green, and as the quantity of

vegetables

becomes nearer sea

impregnation from their decay increases

when

yellowish green, and at length,

extract

peat

is

large in quantity

is

found
the

instances,

states,

ice has the like beautiful

greener,

the vegetable

as in countries

yellow,

and even brown.

Lake

of

where

To mention

Geneva, fed from sources

Rhone) formed from melting

snow, is blue ; and the Rhone pours from it, dyed of
the deepest azure, and retains partially this colour
(particularly the higher

till

it

is

joined by the Saone, which gives to

The Lake

it

on the contrary,
which is fed from a lower country, and from less pure
And there is an illustrative
sources, is grass green.
greener hue.

of Morat,

instance in some small lakes fed from the same source,

in the road

from Inspruck to

observed in 1815
Xazareit and Reiti.

Stutgard, which I

(as well as I recollect) between

The highest lake

snows in March, when I saw

it,

fed by melted
was bright blue. It

by a small stream into another, into

which a number of large pines had been blown by a
winter storm, or fallen from some other cause
in
discharged

itself

this

lake

its

colour was blue

green.

In a third

which there were not only pines and their

branches, but likewise other decaying vegetable

lake, in

T 2

SALMOXIA.

276

matter,

had a

it

[histh day,

tint of faded grass

green

and these

changes had occurred in a space not much more than

These observations I made in
a mile in length.

1815

after,

on returning to the same spot twelve years

in August and September, I found the

The pine

character of the lakes entirely changed.

had disappeared ;
a large quantity of stones and gravel, washed down
by torrents, or detached by an avalanche, supplied

wood washed

into the second lake

their place

there was no perceptible

tint

in

the

two upper lakes;

where there was

still

difference of

but the lower one,

some vegetable matter, seemed

The same principle will

to possess a greener hue.

apply to the Scotch and Irish rivers, which,

when they

from pure rocky sources, are blue, or

green; and when fed from peat bogs, or

rise or issue

bluish

alluvial countries, yellow, or amber-coloured, or

even

after

they have deposited

brown

a part of their

impurities in great lakes..

Sometimes, though rarely,

small
mineral impregnations give colour to water
from
or
streams are sometimes green
ferruginous
yellow
:

depositions.

Calcareous matters seldom affect their

colour, but often their transparency, when deposited,

as is the case with the Yelino at Terni, and the Anio
at Tivoli

are

in

water.

but I doubt

themselves

if

white,

pure saline matters, which

ever change

the tint of

COLOUR OF THE OCEAN.

hith day/]

ORN.

On what

depend, which has

HAL.

tliink

perhaps, partially

and brome, which

277

then does the tint of the ocean

itself

given

name

to a colour ?*

probably on vegetable matter, and,

on two elementary principles, iodine
it

certainly contains,

though these

are possibly the results of decayed marine vegetables.

These give a yellow tint, when dissolved in minute

portions in water, and this, mixed with the blue of
pure water, would occasion sea green.

I made, many
on
the
Mer
de
an
Glace,
years ago, being
experiment
on this subject. I threw a small quantity of iodine,
a substance then recentlv discovered, into one of those

deep blue basins of water, which are so frequent on

[* The colour of the ocean out of soundings is hlue, indeed blue
water in the sailor's vocabulary is equivalent to being out of soundings.

In shallow

seas,

in

which

various tints of the surface

is reflected from the

bottom, the
be considered as depending chiefly on

light

may

the modifying influence of the rays so reflected, being greenish,

the bottom

is

was supposed

That

it

is

yellow, &c.
to

At one time

when

the blue colour of the ocean

be owing to the reflected hue of the atmosphere.

a property of the water itself, I have

The

had

proof,

and

often,

from a sea journal kept in 1820,

when returning from Ceylon, and may be adduced in proof: referring
u
to a gale, when no blue sky was to be seen, it is observed,
during
in ocean voyages.

following

is

sky was overcast, so as to be of the dark grey or light

Its blue colour
hue, but the sea retained its usual colour.
appeared very distinct, when one looked immediately down from the
this gale the

sooty

and it was equally evident in the waves as they

;
heads being between the light and eye of the observer.
Even in the colour of the surface of the sea in general, a tint of blue

ship into the sea

rose, their

might be distinguished, but it was not bright on account of the darkJ. D.l

ness of the surface."

SAL MONIA

278

that glacier, and/ diffusing

as it dissolved with a

it

I saw the water change

stick,

[ninth day.

first

colour, then to grass green, and

green

only as a fact favourable to

POIET.

lastly to yellowish

not, however, give this as a proof,

I do

to sea green in

It appears to

my

me

but

conjecture.

to confirm your view of

the subject, that snow and ice, which are merely pure
crystallised

water,

are

always

blue,

when

seen by

I have often admired the deep

transmitted light.

azure in crevices in masses of snow in severe winters,

and the same colour in the

glaciers of Switzerland,

the arch where the Arve issues, in

particularly at

the Yalley of Chamouni.

We

thank you for your

illustration.

HAL.

In

return,

ask

you

some further

for

You said just now,

remarks on this grand waterfall.
the
fall of the Yelino for picturesque
you preferred
any other waterfall you have seen ; yet it is
a small river compared even with the Traun, and
effect to

nothing compared with the Gotha,

above

all,

POLET.
fall

the

the Rhine, or,

Glommen.

Size

is

merely comparative

I prefer the

of the Yelino, because its parts are in harmony.

and power of the element, in

its rapid and precipitous descent ; and you feel that
even man would be nothing in its waves, and would
It displays all the force

be dashed to pieces by

its force.

The whole scene

is

REFLECTIONS.

ninth day.]

embraced

once by the

at

at

is

and the

eye,,

as sublime as that of the

279

effect is

almost

Glommen, where the

river

one hundred times as large ; for the

falls, as it were, from a whole valley upon

least

Glommen

a mountain of granite, and unless where you see the

giant pines of

Norway, fifty or sixty feet in height,

it and
swimming in its whirlpools
you have no idea of its magnitude and

down by

carried

like straws,

Yet

power.

I think, considering

still,

relations, tins is the

most awful

ever seen, as that of Yelino

beautiful.

the

fall of

is

it

in all its

of water I have

the most perfect and

am

I
not sure that I ought not to place
the Gotha above that of the Ehine, both

for variety of effect

opinion,

is

fall

quite as

and beauty ; and the river, in my

large, and the colour of the water

quite as beautiful.

HAL.

But our

separation arrives.

horses are ready, and the time of

I trust

we

shall all

have a happy

meeting in England in the winter. I have made

you idlers at home and abroad, but I hope to some
purpose; and I trust you will confess the time
bestowed upon angling has not been thrown
away.
The most important principle, perhaps, in life is to

have a pursuit a useful one if possible, and

events an innocent one.
And the scenes

at all

you have
which they have led,
and the exercise in which we have indulged, have,
enjoyed

the contemplations

to

SALMONIA.

280

am

[ninth day.

been very salutary to the body, and, I

I have always found a peculiar

sure,

hope, to the mind.

effect

from

me back

this

kind of

life

early times

to

it

and

has appeared to bring

feelings,

and to create

again the hopes and happiness of youthful days.

PHYS.

something like what you described,

and were I convinced that in the cultivation of
felt

the

amusement, these
would devote myself to

in

my

case this

any thing

is

like

that

freshness

Ah

all

fear,

could I recover

mind, which I

of

and which,

the dawning morning, covered

all

increase,

with passion ; but I

impossible.

possessed at twenty-five,

would

feelings
it

like the

objects

dew

of

and nourished

things that grew, and in which they were more

beautiful

even than in mid -day

sunshine,

what

would I not give?

All that I have gained in an
active and not unprofitable life. How well I remember
t

that delightful season, when, full of power, I sought

for

and power was sympathy, and

TVhen the dead and the unknown,

power in others

sympathy power.

the great of other ages and of distant places, were

made, by the force of the imagination, my companions

and friends ; when every voice seemed one of praise

and love;

when

every flower

had the bloom and

and every spray or plant seemed

;
which
the
either
poet's laurel, or the civic oak
appeared to offer themselves as wreaths to adorn my
odour of the rose

REFLECTIONS.

ninth day.]

281

this cannot be ; and

But, alas
throbbing brow.
cannot
have
two
even you
springs in life
though
!

I have no doubt you have fishing days, in which the

feelings of

youth return, and that your autumn has a

more vernal character than mine.

POIET.

do not think Halieus had ever any

and gentle spring for the

season, except a perpetual

tones of his

been so

mind have been always

shaken by winds,

it

by sunshine, and so

scorched

little

so quiet,

that, I think, it

has

little

may be compared

to that sempivernal climate fabled of the Hesperides,

where the same

trees

produced

at

once buds, leaves,

blossoms, and fruits.

HAL.

Nay,

my

gray

so

much

hairs.

as

my

friends, spare

that you have known, I have

not been so

much

which so many of
I owe

it

me

little,

spare

I have not perhaps abused my youth

some of my friends, but all things

known

and

if

I have

scorched by the passions from

my

acquaintances have suffered,

rather to the constant

employment of a

laborious profession, and to the exertions called for

by the hopes, wants, and wishes

than to

any

constitutional.

merits

For

of

my

my

of a rising family,

own, either moral or

health,

may thank my

my God, and I have not squandered

what was so bountifully given ; and though I do not
ancestors after

expect like our arch-patriarch, Walton, to

number

SAL MO XIA.

282

[ninth day.

ninety years and upwards, yet, I hope, as long as

I can enjoy in a vernal day the
of the sunbeams,

still

to

warmth and

haunt the streams

light

following

the example of our late venerable friend, the president

of the Royal

Academy,*

when he was an

in

company with whom,

octogenarian, I have thrown the

fly,

caught trout, and enjoyed a delightful day of angling

and

social

amusement, in the shady green meadows

bv the bright

clear streams of the "Wandle.

*

Benjamin West,

Griindtl

Lake Upper Austria.

ADDITIONAL NOTES.

(On

The
a cross

mean
little

the Parr,

page 69J

author, in supposing that the parr may be produced from

between the river trout and the sea trout, does not

to attach any importance to this idea.

The fish differs so
from the common trout, that it may be questioned,

it is not more entitled to the character of a variety

than of a species. In many rivers on the continent, the author
has seen small trout with olive or brown marks, like those of

whether

the British parr ; and a friend informs him, that he has caught
fish of the same kind in the streams connected with the Lake of

Geneva.* In rivers, flowing into the Danube, these small fish

are very common but, as well as he remembers, their marks
are pale or yellowish-brown, or olive, and not dark or blue like
those of our parr. The salmon does not belong to any of these
;

localities, but the hucho haunts the tributary streams of the

Danube. The smelts, or young of the salmo hucho, and sea
trout, and lake trout, are all distinguished by the uniform dark
colour of the back, and the silvery whiteness of the belly. He
does not remember to have seen any of the streaked, or parr
varieties of trout in rivers, in which there was only one species,
or variety of large salmo. The mottled colour of the skin is, he
[* The young of the common trout has transverse marks similar to those
of the parr, though less distinct, yet sufficiently so to require an experienced
eye to avoid mistaking the one for the other. These markings indeed seem
to helong to fish of the salmon kind generally, and hence the facility of
adopting the view proposed hardly advocated- -by the author, that the parr

he a hybrid and that there may be such a hybrid appears from the
results of the experiments of Mr. Shaw; he states that he has succeeded in
hatching the ova of the salmon impregnated with the milt of the common
river trout. See "Days and Nights of Salmon Fishing," by Wm. Scrope, Esq.

may

J.

D.]

ADDITIONAL NOTES.

284

thinks, the strongest argument in favour of this little fish being

from a cross of two varieties, or races, which may be the case,
and yet the fish be capable of breeding, and gaining this character of a peculiar variety and he supposes different kinds of
parrs may be produced by crosses of the sea trout, the hucho,
;

the lake trout, with the river trouts, or perhaps of the salmon,
this would account for their great numbers, and the various

and

tints of the

marks on their

sides.

If the hucho, as

generally spawns late in the winter,

trout spawning at the same time.

it

he

believes,

may sometimes meet with

He has seen salmon and

Tweed in a similar state of maturity at the same

period ; and, in 1816, he remembers, that he took a large female
salmon, that had the period of parturition protracted as late as
trout in the

March.
(

On

the Scolopax,

page

106.)

words on the congeners of this bird (the

solitary snipe), and on the three varieties so much better known
The woodcock feeds indiscriminately upon earthin Europe.
worms, small beetles, and various kinds of larva?, and its
stomach contains seeds, which I suspect have been taken up in
boring among the excrements of cattle yet the stomach of this
I shall say a few

bird has something of the gizzard character, though not so

much as that of the land-rail, which I have found half filled with

seeds of grasses, and even containing corn, mixed with mayThe woodbugs, earth-worms, grass-hoppers, and caterpillars.
cock, I believe, breeds habitually only in high northern latitudes,
yet there are woods in England, particularly one in Sussex,
near the borders of Hampshire, in which one or two couple of
I
these birds, it is said, may always be found in summer.
suspect these woodcocks are from the offspring of birds which
had paired for their passage, but being detained by an accident

happening to one of them, staid and raised a young brood in

England, and the young ones probably had their instincts
altered by the accidents of their being born in England, and
being in a place well supplied with food. It is not improbable,
that they likewise raised young ones, and that the habit of
There can be no doubt, that
staying has become hereditary.
woodcocks are very constant to their local attachments woodcocks that have been preserved in a pai'ticular wood for a
;

ADDITIONAL NOTES.
winter, always return to

it, if

2S5

possible, the next season.

Many

woodcocks breed in Norway and Sweden in the great, extensive,

and moist pine woods, filled with bogs and morasses, which
cover these wild countries, but probably a still greater number
breed further north, in Lapland, Finland, Eussia, and Siberia.

they ever raise their young habitually

mountainous countries of the central or
southern parts of Europe. These countries indeed in summer
are very little fitted for their feeding they cannot bore where
it is either dry or frosty, and the glacier, as well as the arid
It is I believe a fable, that

in the high Alpine or

sand or rock, are equally unfitted for their haunts. They leave
the north with the first frost, and travel slowly south till they

come
make

to their

accustomed winter quarters they do not usually

fly from wood to wood, reposing and
;

a quick voyage, but

feeding on their journey ; they prefer for their haunts, woods

near marshes or morasses they hide themselves under thick
;

bushes in the day, and

evening.

fly

abroad to feed in the dusk of the

laurel, or holly-bush, is a favourite place for their

repose the thick and varnished leaves of these trees prevents

the radiation of heat from the soil, and they are less affected by
:

the refrigerating influence of a clear sky, so that they afford a

warm seat for the woodcock. Woodcocks usually begin to fly

north on the

first

approach of spring, and their

flights

are

generally longer, and their rests fewer, at this season than in

the autumn. In the autumn they are driven from the north to

the south by the want of food, and they stop wherever they can
In the spring, there is the influence of another
find food.

They
powerful instinct added to this, the sexual feeling.
migrate in pairs, and pass as speedily as possible to the place
where they are likely to find food, and to raise their young, and
of which the old birds have already had the experience of
former years. Scarcely any woodcocks winter in any part of
Germany. In France there are a few found, particularly in the
southern provinces, and in Normandy and Brittany. The woods
of England, especially of the west and south, contain always a
certain quantity of woodcocks, but there are far more in the
moist

and warmer climate of Ireland

soil

but in the woods of

southern Italy and Greece, near marshes, they are far more
abundant and they extend in quantities over the Greek Islands,
;

Asia Minor, and northern Africa.

ADDITIONAL NOTES.

286

The snipe

is

one of the most generally distributed birds

belonging to Europe. It feeds upon almost every kind of worm,

or larva, and, as I have said before, its stomach sometimes con-

and rice it prefers a country cold in the summer to

but wherever there is much fluid water, and great
morasses, this bird is almost certain to be found. Its nest is
very inartificial, its eggs large, and the young ones soon become
of an enormous size, being, often before they can fly, larger than
Two young ones are usually the number in a nest,
their parents.
but I have seen three. The old birds are exceedingly attached
to their offspring, and if any one approach near the nest, they
make a loud and drumming noise above the head, as if to divert
the attention of the intruder. A few snipes always breed in the
marshes of England and Scotland, but a far greater number
In the
retire for this purpose to the Hebrides and the Orkneys.
tains seeds

breed in

heather surrounding a small lake in the island of Hoy, in the

Orkneys, I found in the month of August, in 1817, the nests of
ten or twelve couple of snipes. I was grouse-shooting, and my
dog continually pointed them, and, as there were sometimes
three young ones and two old ones in the nest, the scent was

very powerful. From accident of the season these snipes were

very late in being hatched, for they usually fly before the middle
of July but this year, even as late as the 15th of August, there
;

were many young snipes that had not yet their wing

feathers.

Snipes are usually fattest in frosty weather, which, I believe, is

owing to this, that in such weather they haunt only warm
springs, where worms are abundant, and they do not willingly
quit these places, so that they have plenty of nourishment and
In wet, open
rest, both circumstances favourable to fat.

weather, they are often obliged to make long flights, and their
food is more distributed. The jack-snipe feeds upon smaller
small white larva?, such as are found in
insects than the snipe
:

black bogs, are its favourite food, but I have generally found
seeds in its stomach, once hemp-seeds, and always gravel. I
know not where the jack-snipe breeds, but I suspect far north.
I never saw their nest or young ones in Germany, France,

Hungary, Hlyria, or the British Islands. The common snipe

breeds in great quantities in the extensive marshes of Hungary
and Hlyria but I do not think the jack-snipe breeds there, for,
even in July and August, with the first very dry weather, mauv;

ADDITIONAL XOTES.
Bnipes, with

ducks and

teal,

come

2S7

into the marshes in the south

of Illyria, but the jack-snipe is always later in its passage, later

even than the double-snipe, or the woodcock. In 1828, in the
drains about Laybach, in Illyria, common snipes were seen in

The first double snipes appeared the first

September, when likewise woodcocks were seen the
first jack-snipe did not appear till three weeks later than the 29th
of September. I was informed at Copenhagen, that the jack-snipe
certainly breeds in Zeeland, and I saw a nest with its eggs, said
the middle of July.

week

in

to be from the island Ox Sandholm, opposite Copenhagen, and I

have no doubt that this bird and the double-snipe sometimes
make their nests in the marshes of Holstein and Hanover. An
excellent sportsman and good observer informs me, that, in the
great royal decoy, or marsh-preserve, near Hanover, he has had
ocular proofs of double-snipes being raised from the nest there
;

but these birds require solitude and perfect quiet, and, as their
food is peculiar, they demand a great extent of marshy meadow.
Their stomach is the thinnest amongst birds of the scolopax
tribe, and, as I have said before, their food seems to be entirely
the larvae of the tipulse, or congenerous
(On

the Vitality

flies.

of Fish, page 10.)

The propriety of avoiding the too common

practice of
allowing the fish caught to die slowly, is pointed out. The
experienced angler knows well, that by dislocating the spine of
small fish, or by a blow on the head of the larger, death or loss
If not so treated, a trout
is immediately produced.
an hour or two after having been taken from the water,
a retention of life chiefly indicated by the action of its gillan action connected with the aeration of the blood,
covers,
out of
equivalent to respiration. The power of sustaining life

of sensation

may

live

water, and in water of different qualities, varies remarkably in

The carp, we are assured, may be fed
different species of fish.
and fattened out of water, provided it be kept moist. The eel

has almost the same power of supporting life in a moist atmoThe trout, like the salmon, can pass from fresh to salt
sphere.
water, and from the latter to the former, with impunity.* The
[* I

have found a small

common

immersed as soon as caught in a solution of

which is weaker than sea water, live as long as

trout,

salt of sp. gr. 1022,

ADDITIONAL NOTES.

2S8

torpedo, on the contrary, is instantly killed by removal from salt

to fresh, water, even more rapidly than if left exposed to the
atmosphere. Such differences, so strongly marked, are deserving

of the attention of the physiologist.

{On

That

fishes

the Senses

J.

D.

of Fishes, page

have the sense of smell,

structure of their

the

nostrils,

26.)

may

as well

be inferred from

as

front

the

fact

mentioned in note, page 26. Munro, in his work on "The

Structure and Physiology of Fishes," published in 1785, reasoning from the ample and peculiar manner in which these
parts are supplied with olfactory nerves, came to the conclusion "that they (fishes) are much more sensible of odorous

bodies dissolved in water, and applied by its medium, than

we should be, if the application of the object was to be
made to an organ of smell through the same medium." The

statement of the author, in page 26, founded, probably, on

"
that the principal use of the nostrils in fishes is to
analogy,
assist the propulsion of water through the gills, for performing
the office of respiration," is not borne out by the structure of

Each nostril has commonly two external apertures.

marked in the Salmonidae one free, the anterior,
the admission of water to the plicated membrane on which

the parts.

They
for

are well

the nerve of smell

is

distributed

the other, the posterior,

The absence,
often valvular, by which the water passes out.
indeed, of such an opening of communication between the nostrils and pharynx, is one of the characteristics by which fishes
and

are distinguished.
reptiles in their greatest generality
fishes have the sense of taste, has been held to

Whether

be

doubtful, as papillae, it is said, have not yet been detected in

But in considering the question, it should be
their tongues.
without papillae,
kept in mind that this sense has been enjoyed
case recorded in
without a
(see the well-authenticated

tongue
the Phil. Trans. 1742 and 1747), and that

more

it is

probable

it is

or less perceived whenever there are branches of the gus-

whilst another immersed in a

put into an equal quantity of fresh water
died
solution of higher sp. gr., viz. 1048, which is much salter than sea water,
in a few minutes, as did also a young parr similarly treated. J. D.]

if

ADDITIONAL NOTES.

289

Now, as fishes are not destitute of these nerves,

tatory nerves.
may be inferred they are not without the power belonging to

it

on the general structure of their

seems likely that the sense is no wise refined, and is
rather for discrimination than enjoyment, and that commonly
them.

Reflecting, however,

mouth,

it

it

has

little

coarse as

attention paid to

it

is

(swallowing

Their manner of feeding, too,

it.

commonly

entire articles of food,

as live insects are

regardless, seemingly, whether dead or alive,
often met with in the stomach of the trout), favours the inference.

friend of mine, an acute observer, in conversation on this subremarked to me, " If you watch a trout from a bridge, you
will see that he takes into his mouth, as it were for trial, all

ject,

small floating objects within his reach, whether fit or unfit to

administer to his nourishment, rejecting the latter, retaining and

swallowing only the former." And, I may add, the experienced

angler acts as if aware of this, knowing how little is his chance
of success, unless he be on the alert, with eye intent and hand

ready to strike the instant the fish seizes his fly.

As regards another sense that of hearing, not alluded to
by the author there can be no doubt that it is possessed by

fishes, as

the

they have an auditory apparatus and nerves, and as

inhabit is capable of conveying the vibrations

medium they

"
required to act on these nerves. Angling being truly the contemplative man's recreation," the avoidance of noise by the
nor need gentle sounds all
river-side need not be exhorted
;

such as are not unsuitable to the time and occasion

hended

as,

from the structure of the ear of

be appre-

fishes, it

may be

inferred that their organ of hearing is a dull one, fitted, as we

find everything in nature is, to the circumstances and wants of
"

the creature.

Walton, in his
Complete Angler," adduces instances from Bacon, Pliny, and others, in proof of fishes having
the power of hearing, adding, " It shall be a rule for me to make
as little noise as I can

when

am fishing, until

Sir Francis

Bacon

be confuted, which I shall give any man leave to do " con"

cluding with the exhortation that anglers should be patient,
and forbear swearing, lest they be heard, and catch no fish."
Of all the senses, that of sight seems to be possessed in the
;

highest degree of acuteness and power by fishes, especially the

Salinonidae, judging from the structure of their eyes and the
manner in which they are alarmed by passing objects such as

ADDITIONAL NOTES.

290

they are not familiar with, or know only as enemies. By means of

three powerful muscles, their movable eyes can be either with-

drawn into their deep sockets or made more prominent, and can
be turned in any direction and the lens, from its yielding
nature, may have its form that of a perfect sphere more or
less changed, more or less compressed and flattened
and, in

addition to a fine

mechanism of the

ball in its several parts, the

eye has a very large optic nerve of a magnitude, indeed, extraordinary compared with the small mass of brain.

For success in angling, too much attention cannot be paid to

the power of sight of the fishes of this family. As a general rule,
it may be laid down, that he who fishes with the longest line

who

can keep most out of sight, will take the largest number,
and fish of the largest size. Even when the light is obscure, as

advanced summer twilight, the visual faculty of

little less powerful than in broad daylight,
as if it had the power
which it probably possesses of adapting its eye to the degree of light a power, it may be remarked,
at the time of

the trout seems to be

very suitable to
J. D.
day.

On

its

habits of feeding at night as well as by

the Colouring of the Salmonidae,

page

36.)

has been observed that the colouring of the trout as

It

form depends a good deal on its condition; that

it has a smaller head and more rounded body,
and a more silvery lustre. The smaller head and more rounded
and larger body considered merely proportional, [the latter
liable to augmentation from deposition of fat, from which the
other is exempt,] requires no comment. The more silvery hue
of the well-fed fish seems to depend on many circumstances
connected with its organisation, especially its scales and other
integumentary parts, and the adipose matter beneath them. The
scales have some resemblance to pearls in their composition,
consisting of membrane not soluble in muriatic acid, and
well as

when

its

well fed,

by fire, and

of phosphate of lime, soluble in the acid

After the separation of the phosphate of
lime by an acid, or of the animal matter by fire, the form of the
scale remains with its peculiar linear markings, denoting a concentric growth, but the pearly lustre in each instance is lost.
destructible

and

The

resisting the

scale,

fire.

undoubtedly,

is

one cause of the silvery hue, and,

ADDITIONAL NOTES.

most of

all,

I believe its

outer lamina;

291
for if the scales

be

triturated so as to nib off this portion, their lustre is diminished

;
and if incinerated some that have been triturated before

exposure to

others that have not been so treated

a difference will be perceived in them on microscopical examination

;
those not triturated seem to be composed of a
milky white part
attached to another of a light brownish hue, whilst those that
have been triturated consist, with few exceptions, of the latter.
fire,

The brownish hue seems, from the trials I have made on it, to
be owing to the presence of a minute portion of iron. The
scales, it must be kept in mind, are more or less transparent,
allowing the colouring matter, on which the hues and spottings
of the fish depend, to be seen through them.
Accordingly, as
this subjacent colouring matter varies in its
hues, so will the
general colour of the fish vary. In well-fed fish, the abdomen
of which is so silvery, there is both on the outer and inner
surface of the cutis a layer of white matter
reflecting a pearly
lustre and the cutis itself being transparent, it is to this matter
as much as to the scales, or perhaps even more, that the
silvery
hue of the part is owing. It is instructive to examine the skin
;

and in part with them remaining

on glass. So prepared, it is manifest how
little the scales have to do with its
colouring, and the degree in
which they are concerned with its lustre. These remarks are
derived from the examination of the scales of the smolt and of
the young trout, and are applicable I believe to those of the fullin part deprived of its scales,
on, especially if dried

grown

fish

of each kind.

In the instance of the full-grown

which is most silvery, owes its

abundance of scales and the
where thickest, two or three,
one over the other, may be detached from the same spot. When
their animal matter is consumed by fire, and
they are viewed
under the microscope, their upper surface is seen to be more
brilliant than their under, and to exhibit a linear or
ridgy
structure which is hardly, if at all, to be seen in the under.
When the phosphate of lime is removed by an acid, the appearance under the microscope is such as to give the idea in accordsalmon, that portion of the

fish

lustre in great measure to the

manner in which they overlap ;

ance with the preceding, that there is forming on the

upper
surface a furrowed layer or lamina which the under is destitute
of,

and

less lustrous

and pearly

in consequence.

J.

D.

u2

292

ADDITIONAL NOTES.

[On

the Structure

of Stomach 0/ the Gillaroo Trout, page 54.)

The author, in noticing the stomach of the gillaroo or

gizzard trout, remarks that it has been improperly compared
to a fowl's.
According to Henry Watson and John Hunter,

who

first

common
thicker.

described

it,

it

differs

from

the stomach

of

the

trout

principally in the circumstance of its being

Hunter found the one he examined two-thirds thicker,

Watson describes it as coman internal, a middle, and an external one.

"The external," he states, "is a kind of peritoneal covering
common to the stomach, intestines, and other viscera. The
middle coat appears to be of a fibrous muscular texture, pretty
with an inner,

posed of three

fine, villous coat.

coats,

thick in flesh, stronger than in the salmon, and of a yellowish

The internal coat has a rough but not rugous surface.
It is spongy and perhaps glandular, with a kind of honeycomb
colour.

texture and strong villi, a little similar to the internal appearance

of the gall bladder in the human subject." He adds that it will

not bear any comparison with the gizzard of birds of the gallinaceous kind, which has powerful muscles with tendons, and a

thick horny inner lining in brief, a grinding apparatus. Hunter

and Watson's papers are in the Phil. Trans, for 1774 and in the
same volume and preceding them is one by Daines Barrington,
in which the peculiarity of the gillaroo trout is first noticed.
He says, " The first time I ever happened to hear of this singular
fish, was from an Irish judge, who being on the Connaught
;

circuit at Ballinrobe, in the county of Mayo, expressed his

ineredvdity with regard to their existence, but was obliged to
pay the common Irish wager of a rump of beef and a dozen of

on three or four being produced the next day from a

From what he afterwards mentions, it
would appear that the stomach of this trout in Ireland was at
that time considered a delicacy, "white, and excellent eating."
He says, " I have been informed by Lord Louth, that he had
claret,

neighbouring lake."

seen a small dish, consisting merely of such gizzards, at an Irish

Galway ; and I could corroborate this fact, was it neces-

table in

In notes
sary, by the testimony of an Irish archbishop."
appended to Barrington's paper, mention is made of a white

ADDITIONAL NOTES.

and red

gillaroo, in

293

Lough Berg, the former with black

The white is described as the

the latter with red.

it,

spots ou
smallest

and the better eating, the size varying from two to twelve pounds.
The author, page 55, speaks of the gillaroo as " a sort of link
between the trout and charr," from a certain resemblance of
stomacli.
The stomach of the charr, it is worthy of remark,
varies, it

may be

inferred, with the quality of its food ; in many

it even thinner in its coats than that of

instances I have found

the

common

trout.

(On

Since " Salmonia

J.

D.

the

Salmon and Parr, page

59.)

"

was first published, so much additional

information has been obtained, respecting the salmon, in its
early stage, its growth, and changes, that the question, so much
agitated, whether the Parr is a young salmon or a distinct
species, may be considered now as satisfactorily solved.
The inquirers to whom we are most indebted for facts on the
The conclusions at
subject, are Mr. Shaw and Mr. Young.
which they have arrived, the result of their observations, may
be briefly noticed.
According to Mr. Shaw, who took the lead in the inquiry, the
is a young salmon, or a young sea-trout (distinguishable, he
thinks, by certain peculiarities *), which becomes a smolt, or
acquires the silvery hue of the adult fish, though remaining of
small size, towards the end of the second year of river life,
parr

preparatory to migrating seaward.

According to Mr. Young, the salmon
is

is

a fresh-water

fish,

and

an inhabitant of fresh water, on an average, ten months out of

the twelve, descending only to the sea (judging from the effect)
for the purpose of that high feeding essential to its growth, and
often returning to the river before its ova are developed ; the
*

The smolts of the salmon, and of the sea-trout of the Sol way, he states,
differ in size, but in some respects in colour, most marked in the fins,
the extremities of the pectoral fins of the sea-trout smolt being orange, with
a tendency to the same colour in the ends of the dorsal and caudal rays,
whence this smolt is there called the orange fin.
It would appear from his observations that the female sea-trout can have
mature ova, and breed without descending to the sea, and that a certain
do not

number

actually do so, without assuming their silvery migratory dress, thus

to the common trout.

approximating

294

ADDITIONAL NOTES.

time required for which, may be from four to six months. Its
spawning season, he states, extends over six months, commencing
about the middle of September, and ending about the middle of

March

the height of the process being from the middle of

to the middle of December,
the earlier the safer,

November

spawning where it had been bred, male and female

the spawn being
associated, side by side, but not in contact,
shed on the ova, immediately on exclusion, both fishes cooperating in making the spawn-bed in the gravel, and in
covering it as soon as laid. This operation on the part of the
male and female occupies from five to ten days. The time of
hatching the ova he estimates at from one hundred to one hundred and forty days, varying with the temperature of the water.
each

fish

During the greater part of the

first

month, the young

fish,

then

hardly an inch long (three quarters of an inch when first produced), mainly depends for its support on the yolk contained in
sac, which, about the end of that time, ceases to be
seen externally. After two months, it loses its early peculiarities,
the most marked of which is a posterior surrounding marginal

the vitelline

very like that of the tadpole

now, its transverse markings

;
begin to appear. At four months it is about two inches in
length ; at six, about three ; at eight and nine, it is very little
fin,

(bars)

larger,

when

but thicker

at ten, it is

from three to three and a

the silvery

transverse bars begin to disappear,

those of the smolt covering and obscuring
its

half,

scales,

them; finally, at
on an average about
five, and is now a smolt, with its silvery migratory coat, and
commonly migrates to the sea, descending in small shoals, from
the middle of April to the middle of May. After remaining
about eight weeks in salt water, it returns a grilse, vastly increased in size, varying in weight, according to the time it has
remained in the sea, from three to eight pounds.
Mr. Shaw's observations on the salmon are to be found in the
twelve months,

it is

from four to

six inches,

"

14th vol. of the Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh,"

and his observations on the sea-trout, in the 15th vol. of the
same publication Mr. Young's, on the salmon, in the last-men"
tioned volume, and more in detail in his Natural History of the
;

Salmon."

Happily they agree in their general statements, espethe time required for the maturation of the

cially in relation to

ova

the production

of the

young

fish.

The circumstance

of

ADDITIONAL NOTES.

295

most importance about which they differ, is as to the time that

the young salmon remains in fresh water, before migrating to
the sea Mr. Shaw, as already mentioned, fixing the period at
two years Mr. Young at one year. This is a point that needs
further inquiry.
Comparing Mr. Shaw's results with those of

relying, as think we may, on the accuracy of each.

Mr.
weYoung,
have the assurance of the
regarding the accuracy of
the former, the conclusion seems probable, that
some rivers
the young salmon becomes
to migrate, and does migrate
twelve months reckoning from the time of
birthand in
;

latter

in

after

fit

its

others, not
exist,

till

double that period

depending,

it

may

be,

a difference, supposing

it

to

on season of spawning, whether

early or late, temperature of water, supply of food, and, perhaps,

Mr. Shaw mentions a
peculiarity of fish, as to rate of growth.
few instances in which the parr assumed its migratory dress at

the age of twelve months, and this was in water of somewhat

higher temperature than ordinary. Mr. Young attributes the
earlier migration of the fish, he observed, to an influence, hastening the smolt-change, derived from proximity to the sea, but of
what kind he does not explain. From such information as I

have been able to

collect, the shorter period is that observed by

the salmon-fry, in the rivers of Westmoreland and Cumberland,
Here, as
generally in accordance with Mr. Yoxing's statements.
commonly elsewhere, the parr, or brandling season, is in summer

and autumn

the smolt or smelt season in spring.

Beck, a stream which flows out of Thirl mere, and

but

little

is,

In

St.

John's

comparatively,

variable as to temperature and height, I have never yet

single brandling in April, and with a few only in the

met with a

May, nor with a single smolt during the summer,

autumn, and winter months. In the Duddon and Irt rivers,
subject to great variation of temperature and volume of water,
the seasons of the parr and smolt are the same as in the lastmentioned river but in spring, amongst the smolts, a parr may
occasionally be taken, probably the offspring of a late, a springlatter part of

breeder of the year preceding.

It is right, however, to mention, that most of the experienced
fishermen on these rivers are in favour of the two years' abiding

young of the salmon in fresh water and the same opinion,

informed, prevails on the subject amongst the fishermen of
the Welsh salmon rivers ; and in proof of its correctness, it is
of the
I

am

ADDITIONAL NOTES.

296

have been informed by Mr. YarrelL that in rivers in

which the smolts (supposed to be of two years) descend to the
sea in April and May, there are to be met with in July and
August two apparently distinct broods, judging from difference
in size,
a larger and a smaller, the larger taking the artificial
w ell known to anglers, varying from
fly, and, in consequence,
the smaller, little known, from
four to seven inches in length
not taking the artificial fly, not exceeding in length from two to
two and a half inches. It may be said that these smaller fish are
from ova laid early in the spring, the larger from ova deposited
The difficulty of deciding which inference
late in the autumn.
is the time one, in great part arises from not knowing the rate of
growth of the voung fish in different rivers and under different
circumstances, that seeming in great measure to depend on its
supply of food. Judging from the analogy of the trout, and the
rapid growth of the young salmon after entering the sea, it is
stated, as I

easy to imagine that a parr, well fed, may attain its full average
few months or, on the contrary, if ill fed, may

river-size in a

be checked in its growth, and be stationary in its size for many

months. The mountain-brook trout is an instance of the slow
growth and diminutive size, inhabiting waters where there is
the river or lake trout, feeding plenlittle and precarious food
kind.
I
tifully and growing rapidly, is an instance of the other
have heard it asserted by an experienced keeper, that he could,
by a peculiar mode of feeding, augment a trout in weight two
pounds in as many months, viz. by suspending a dead rabbit
;

The
from a branch of a tree over the haunts of the trout.
rabbit, he said, became fly-blown, the maggots resulting fell
into the river, and the trout feeding on them, grew and fattened
thus rapidly.

But whether the young fish be one or two years, or an intermediate period or a longer period, in assuming the smolt form,
it now seems tolerably well proved that the testes of the young
salmon are fuVJy developed, so as to be capable of exercising a
fertilising influence, before descending to the sea but that the
;

ovaries are later in their growth, and the ova are not mature till
the fish has returned from the sea as a grilse. And does not this

warrant the conclusion, that the ova of the latter are fertilised
of the former ? Such observations as I have made

by the sperm

in examining the testes

and ovaries of the salmon-fry

at different

ADDITIONAL NOTES.
seasons are in favour of

297

Thus, in the autumn and beginuing

it.

of winter, I have found in the parr the milt voluminous, and

ready, or nearly ready, to be shed ;* whilst in the spring, in the
smolts, I have hardly found a vestige of it, as if it had been shed.
On the contrary, in the female, at the former period, I have
found the ovaries very small, the ovaries rarely sufficiently

advanced to appear granular, but gradually, though very slowly,

so slowly, indeed, that
increasing in volume towards spring,

when prepared

to migrate, in the majority of females they are

hardly granular. That in the grilse the ova are matured, that
it, after its first return from the sea, is a breeding fish, appears
to be proved

beyond doubt.
it would appear, breed early in

All the Salmonidao,

life,

size

concerned with the faculty of breeding. Xor

is this surprising, when we reflect that the ova and the spermatozoa are of the same magnitude, whether the product of fish in
early life or in advanced, the great difference being as to number.
This precocity is a happy circumstance, and designed, no doubt,
of

body being

little

to secure the continuance of the species, in so many ways endanThese remarks may help to make accord Mr. Shaw's and
gered.

Mr. Young's observations

one, that the male parr mates or
follows the old female salmon, when breeding, to secure the
impregnation of her ova the other, that the female prefers a
:

male of about her own age, and takes no note of the parrs, even
selecting a trout for her mate, in case of need, not being able to
find a salmon ; and that the ova of the salmon can be fertilised

by the sperm of the

trial

one.

of

its

influence.

Analogies

may

trout,

The

we

are assured

by Mr. Shaw,

after

a curious and important

be found amongst other animals, and even
subject

is

amongst some considered of higher organisation. The goat and

the sheep may be mentioned as instances. Like the salmon and
like them, the male is more precotrout, they breed together
;

Of three parrs taken in St. John's Beck, in the first week of September,
1850, the milt of one the entire fish weighing 525 grs. and measuring
5.7 inches in length, was 114 grs.; of another, weighing 327 grs. and measuring 4.6 inches, was 52 grs.; of a third, weighing 445 grs. and measuring
In these instances, though the milt was propor5.5 inches, was 84 grs.

tionally so voluminous, it was. not even in the first quite mature, not yielding
on pressure the milky fluid characteristic of its maturity. Five weeks later,
I have taken the parr in the same stream, with its testes arrived at this
stage of maturity others, taken at the same time, were found in various
;

degrees less

so.

ADDITIONAL NOTES.

298

cious than the female, and is capable of exercising the generative

function long before the attainment of full growth, even as early

month, and of exercising it with effect, like the

on the ova of its parent, when next needed. (See a paper
communicated by me on the early generative power of the kid, in
the " Proceedings of the Zoological Society," for May, 1847.)
That the parr, before the facts referred to were brought to
light, should have been considered a distinct species, is nut to
be wondered at, especially taking into account that there are
other differences (comparing the parr and the smolt) besides
those already mentioned, as the situation of the fins, and the
form of body and its proportions. In the smolt, the dorsal fin
is nearer the head than in the parr, and is comparatively larger
than that of the parr, whilst its general form is more delicate
as its fourth
parr,

and elongated

but

how

small are these differences by the side

of the greater which we witness in the young of so many other

animals during their period of growth, and which, no doubt, had
they been examined under circumstances like those under which

the parr was

false,

first

noticed,

might have given them claim, however

to be ranked as species

to the

{Queries relative

The

distinct adult species.

Natural History of

early history of the

detail is yet a desideratum.

common

the Trout,

page

J.

D.

64.)

trout in minute and exact

Precise observations on

its

breeding-

and the rate of growth of

the young fish, like those made by Mr. Shaw and Mr. Your-g on
the salmon, are needed, and would be especially useful in relation to the stocking and preserving of trout-streams, and the fair
sport of the angler. Were such observations made on fish, under
different circumstances, as to temperature of water, quality and
quantity of food, their value would be greatly increased. The
widest limit of the spawning season of the trout, in the same
river, and whether it varies materially in different rivers, remain
yet to be determined and also whether it breeds, as Bloch asserts,
every year, or, more commonly, every second year, and also at
what age it has the power of propagating. That its spawning
season extends over several months, is certain; and also, that in
most of our rivers it begins in September, is at its height in the
latter end of October and beginning of November, and does not
period, on the development of its ova,

299

ADDITIONAL NOTES.

It is certain, too, judging from an

till December, or later.
examination of the testes and ovaries during the breeding-time,
that, as in the instance of the salmon, several days are required
for the laying of the ova.
Further, it is well ascertained, that

end

during the whole of this period, that is, from September till
December, many trouts are found either with the ovaries and
testes only just visible, or so little developed as not to admit
of the conclusion of their spawning till the following season.
These fish are commonly not out of condition, like those that
are breeding and are to be taken, not where the latter most
the small streams, the feeders of the lakes and rivers
resort to

but in the lakes and rivers themselves in

;

brief, in their

old

This separation of breeders and non-breeders may be

viewed as a happy provision of nature for the preservation of
the species, inasmuch as the latter feed greedily on the ova of
haunts.

the former, and, were they together, would prove very destrucenemies of their own kind, not less than of the
tive of roe
nobler salmon in its spawning-bed, as is well insisted on by

Mr. Young.

two years
age.

J.

Probably, the trout is capable of propagating when

and of attaining, if well fed, a goodly size at that

old,

D.
(On

The author

the

Spawning

states that

Localities of the Charr,

page

70.)

"

the charr spawns in still, and the

By a gentleman, an able naturalist,

trout in running water."

who has paid great attention to the history of the Salmonidse,
but without opportunities of making special observations
on the breeding of the charr, I have heard it asserted that

he maintaining that the charr, like

the trout, spawns only in streams. This is a question which
must be determined not by analogy but by experience. The
this statement is erroneous,

information I have been able to collect in the Lake district,

where the charr is so common, accords not with his view but
I have been assured by experienced fishermen, whose accuracy I cannot doubt, that the ova of this fish
have been found on the shallow banks in the lake of "Windermere, spots where the charr resorts in great numbers during

with the author's.

the spawning season. Moreover, that part of the Brathay a

another great spawning-place
river that flows into Windermere
"
of the charr, well described by Mr. Yarrell, in his
History of

300

ADDITIONAL NOTES.

British Fishes"

be

little

more

is a pool, a miniature lake, where the water can

in motion more impregnated with air than in

hour unruffled by the wind. In Hawes

Water, in which the charr, the trout, and the shelley are all
abundant it being one of the few Westmoreland lakes in which
poaching is prevented the charr, I have been informed, breeds
the lake

itself,

rarely an

only in the lake the keeper, in the course of six years' observation, never knew or heard of an instance of a single charr having
:

been taken in any of the tributary streams

of the trouts.

probably, merely a variety of the northern charr,

circumstances.
It is proportionlarger fish than the northern charr, or that of Win-

260.

It

owing

its peculiarities to local

ally a

the breeding-streams

A figure of the charr of this lake is given in page

is,

much

dermere, Buttermere, and Coniston Water. It differs, too, in

In one day, I was told, two anglers in
rising freely at the fly.
Hawes Water took nine dozen, without taking a single trout.

when

and has, I think, a more deliof Buttermere, and of its neighbouring

lake, Crummock Water, I have also been assured, never enters
the tributary rivers, and breeds only in the lakes
and it,
A.nd,

in season, it is less fat,

cate flavour.

The charr

whether of Buttermere or Crummock Water, closely resembles

the charr of Windennere.
Yet it has its peculiarities. Though
similar in general form and colouring, it has a thicker stomach
than the charr of Windennere

has

(a

specimen that I examined)

a rose-coloured air-bladder, and, when of full size, is said never

to be taken with a fly or any bait, and even when only halfgrown, and less, is but rarely taken with the fly. I have obtained similar information relative to the breeding-places of the
charr in other two lakes of the same district, viz., Coniston

Water and Ulles Water

*
;

and hence leading to the conclusion

water rather than running is most appropriate to it, and

ever resorting to a river, as in the instance of the sluggish

that

still

that

its

part of the Brathay,

{On

the

is

to be held as an exception.

Young Trout on

quitting the Egg,

page

J.

D.

71.)

It is stated

by the author, that the young trout, after bursting the egg, when it subsists on the supply of food by nature
* Since

mines have been opened in the vicinity of these lakes, the charr
become scarce and it is no longer found in the latter.

in the former has

ADDITIONAL NOTES.
provided

in

its

yolk-bag,

may

for

some

301
days, as requiring

be easily conveyed from place to place

in confined portions of fresh water.
Judging from the analogy
of the young salmon, and from what I have learned respecting the young trout, its time of easy and safe conveyance
may be extended to a few weeks, at least five and probably six

no food ab

externo,

"
or seven. We are informed by Mr. Young, in his History of
the Salmon," that the internal yolk-bag protruding from the
abdomen of the young fish, does not disappear till the end of
the fifth week, reckoning from the time of hatching
nor, I
;

believe, does it disappear earlier in the instance of the trout.

Moreover, as in the young of those cartilaginous fishes which

have been examined, the internal yolk-bag has been found to

increase as the external has diminished, reasoning from analogy,
it
be inferred that the same probably occurs in the instance of

may

the Salnionidse, and consequently that they have included within

themselves a store of food in the inner yolk-bag, sufficient to
support them altogether or in part, considerably beyond the fifth

In a young torpedo which I examined when six months

yolk was even then discoverable. There
are other circumstances which may be mentioned as favourable
week.

old, a vestige of the inner

to the transport of fishes shortly after hatching, viz. their greater

the length of time

irritability and tenacity of life, denoted by
their heart continues to act when removed from the body, and

the season of the year, the winter season, when the colder
water has a larger proportion of atmospheric air, and retains
J. D.
it longer than the warmer water of a milder season.

(On

the Digestive

Powers of the Salmonidce, page

112.)

The author alludes to the digestion of the salmon as being

very quick. It appears to be so in all the Salmonidse, and is
probably connected with power of rapid growth, which is
so

the majority of them, when abundantly

Proof of such quickness of digestion
often afforded in the dead fish ; often and often I have

remarkable

supplied with
is

in

food.

found in the trout and salmon-fry that portion of its abdominal

lower part of the stomach, and
the upper part of the intestine, reduced to a soft, pulpy state,

parietes, corresponding to the

approaching to chyme and not unfrequently a portion,

also,

of

ADDITIONAL NOTES.

302

the stomach

itself so

changed,

effects, it

may be

by John Hunter,

gastric fluid, as explained

inferred, of the
in his well-known

"

On the digestion of the stomach after death." In accordance with the quickness of digestion and facility of assimilation is, I believe, the manner in which the kidneys perform
their function.
They appear to be comparatively inactive,
thereby allowing the greater portion of the azotised matter of
the food to be assimilated, and applied to the growth of the
paper,

animal.

and

What

trout,

a contrast

is

offered in the excreta of the swallow

when, as in summer, both subsist on

those of the

flies

Amongst

detect the urinary secretion

conspicuous and abundant, con-

fish it is difficult to

whilst in those of the bhxL

it is

sisting principally of lithate of

ammonia; and

remarkable in the instance of the

fish,

as

it is

this is the

more

provided with a

urinary bladder.
In connexion with the solvent power of the contents of the
stomach, and the tendency of the bile in the gall-bladder and the
contents of the intestines, readily putrescent, to penetrate and
and so injure the flavour of fish, it may be well to caution

taint,

anglers, who wish to keep the fish they take for the table, to have
them eviscerated as soon as possible, and also to have them kept in

the coolest place that may be available. A good plan is to have

them packed, not in green grass, as is usually done, but rather
in

dry straw,

dryness rather than moisture being most favour-

able to the keeping of them fresh, and on the same principle,

their inside should be wiped with a clean cloth before they are

packed.

D.

J.

(Fivers suitable

to the

Grayling, page 178.)

In confirmation of the greater delicacy of the grayling, as to

temperature, compared to the trout, and of its intolerance of
great vicissitudes of river-temperature, I may mention, that
this fish is plentiful, even more so than the trout, in the

though

preserved parts of the Derbyshire Wye and Derwent, it is almost

unknown in the Lathkil and the Bradford, tributaries of the
Wye, abounding in trout, and as carefully preserved. All

attempts to introduce it into these streams have failed. Their

inaptitude has been attributed to a difference in the quality of
their water it has been said to be harder, more petrifying ; but
this I have not been able to confirm by chemical examination
:

ADDITIONAL NOTES.

303

indeed, the water of the Wye proved to be equally hard, if not

harder, and to contain a little sulphate of lime, which could not
The mean difference
be detected in the water of the Lathkil.

appeared to me to be in the character of the several rivers, in

relation to volume, mode of flowing, and temperature ; the Wye
and Dei-went being fuller and more constant streams, less liable
to be frozen in winter, and unduly heated in summer,
streams,

by the author, as peculiarly

suitable to the grayling ; and further, from the nature of their
bottom, insuring a larger and more constant supply of that kind
of food, water-snails, larvae, squilla?, &c, which the grayling a
in all respects, like these described

needing good and plentiful food in winter seems to require.

That the mere chemical nature of the water is not the main
cause of the unfitness of the Lathkil for grayling seems to be

fish

shown by the circumstance that

it

enters the lower part of that

above the junction with

the Wye, but does not ascend beyond the first fall, a fall that
the trout readily passes, and which is not, I believe, higher than
some in the Wye and Derwent, that the grayling is known to
stream, and even breeds there a

surmount.

J.

little

D.
{Use of the Scales of the Eel, page 198.)

is made of the scales of the eel as likely to facilithe progressive motion of this fish when out of water.
be enterConsidering the nature of these scales, doubt may
From an examination I have made of
tained on this

Mention

tate

point.

them, I find they are commonly oval, about the 555th of an

inch in their long diameter, symmetrically arranged in combe seen
approaching in form the oval. These may

partments,
with a common magnifying-glass but to distinguish the scales
Their form,
is required.
individually, a high magnifying power
has
I
add, is best seen after a portion of the integuments
;

may

been exposed to a charring or incinerating heat.

instance,

when the

charcoal

is

consumed

In the latter

their skeleton remains,

coloured by
consisting of phosphate of lime, just perceptibly
of iron.
Now, as these minute scales seem to be
peroxide
as the skin of the
adhering closely by their entire surface, and
animal is lubricated with viscid mucus, it is not obvious, nor
does it seem probable, that they can be of any service for loco-

motion in the manner supposed by the author.

ADDITIONAL NOTES.

304

The idea seemingly entertained by the author in the page

last referred to, that the eel, by continued residence
in the sea, may acquire the size and be confounded with the

next to that

does not accord with the best observations of naturalists

conger,

most of them made since the publication

of Salmonia.

That

they are distinct species can hardly now be doubted, even

The circumstance
generically they are now held to be distinct.
that the number of vertebrae in the two differ in the common

common

being 116, and in the

fresh- water eel

conger 156, as

stated by Mr. Yarrell, is a strong proof of their distinctness

not less so is the fact (first noticed, I believe, by Sir

and
John
;

I have
Richardson,*) that the conger is destitute of scales.
examined its skin, in the same manner as the skin of the eel, for

scales,

and neither before incineration nor

after,

have

detected

any, using a high magnifying power.

The use of the minute scales of the eel, in all the species of
the genus Anguilla, may be considered a problem, comparing

they are now constituted, which

mura?na, and ophisurus, and
these again with the electrical fishes, the torpedo, gymnotiis and
silurus, in the skin of which no rudiments even of scales, in the

them with the

are without

allied genera, as

scales, viz., conger,

The common and

instances I have examined, can be detected.
natural idea, that the scales of fishes are destined for defensive
is not well accordant with these examples, excepting on
the supposition that the want of them in the electrical fishes is
compensated by the electrical organs of these fishes, and in the
others by the thickness and strength of their integuments in

armour,

the cutis of the conger I have found on incineration a large proportion of phosphate of lime. J. D.

(On

the

Food of the

Shelley,

page 264.)

The author states that the lavaret, or shelley, is taken only

with nets that it feeds on vegetables and that he had never
found in the stomachs of those he had opened either flies or
small fishes. The first fish of this kind that I saw taken was
;

with a small

this was in Hawes Water.

During nearly half
two or three instances of its being so caught

fly

a century only
* "

of the Voyage of H. M.
John Richardson."

The Zoology

Fishes.

By

Sir

S.

Erebus and Terror, Part

vii.

ADDITIONAL NOTES.

were known
in

In the stomach of this

there.

Hawes Water

kinds of small

305
fish

fish

abundant

found the remains of two or three different

That it is not oftener taken with a fly is

flies.

when we consider that comparatively large articommonly used in lake-fishing, and, moreover,
mind the conformation of its mouth and tongue,

not surprising,
ficial

flies

are

keeping in
without teeth,

or, if any (in the one I examined there were a few

towards the apex of the tongue and in the upper-lip), so small as
to be microscopic. According to Dr. Knox, the vendace of Lochmabon, which seems to differ very little, if at all, from the

shelley, feeds principally

on minute entomostracous animals.

This has been confirmed by Mr. Yarrell, who found also in the
stomachs of some he examined portions of flies. Now, as the
structure of its mouth and that of the shelley seem nowise

adapted for feeding on vegetables, and I cannot learn that these

have been detected in its stomach, it is more than probable that
its food is chiefly animal.
The shelley of Hawes Water, I may add, breeds in the still
water of the lake, depositing the ova on aquatic plants. It is
never

known

time of this

up the tributary streams. The breedingthe autumn. The intelligent keeper at Hawes

to run

fish is

Water told me that once, in September, he took some of its roe

"
from the " moss (conferva, &c.) of the lake, which he transferred
to a basin, and,

by changing the water

daily,

succeeded in hatch-

he
ing the ova. The young fish, when they first appeared,
described as being hardly half an inch in length, provided with
a yolk-bag and a marginal posterior fin, i. e. one connecting the
dorsal, caudal, and anal ; after about five weeks they acquired
the size of ordinary minnows, with the colouring and decided,
unmistakeable character of the shelley. J. D.

THE END.

f*~<f

1 11r

iv

***-

'''#

fy