to have a bony gristle, to grow (not unlike a Hauks beak) on one of his chaps, which hinders him from feeding, and then he pines and

dies.

But if he gets to Sea, then that griftle wears away, or is caft off (as the Eagle is faid to caft his bill) and he recovers his ftrength, and comes next Summer to the fame River, (if it be poffible) to enjoy the former pleasures that there poffeft him; for (as one has wittily obferved) he has (like fome perfons of Honour and Riches, which have both their winter and Summer houses) the fresh Rivers for Summer, and the falt water for winter to spend his life in; In his Hi- which is not (as Sir Francis Bacon ftory of hath obferved) above ten years: And Death. it is to be observed, that though they

Life and

grow big in the Sea, yet they grow not fat but in fresh Rivers; and it is obferved, that the farther they get from the Sea, the better they be.

And

And it is obferved, that, to the end they may get far from the Sea, either to Spawne or to poffefs the pleasure that they then and there find, they will force themselves over the tops of Weirs, or Hedges, or Stops in the water, by taking their tails into their mouthes, and leaping over those places, even to a height beyond common belief: and fometimes by forcing themselves against the streame through Sluces and Floud-gates, beyond common credit. And 'tis obferved by Gefner, that there is none bigger then in England, nor none better then in Thames.

And for the Salmons fudden growth, it has been obferved by tying a Ribon in the tail of fome number of the young Salmons, which have been taken in Weires, as they fwimm'd towards the falt water,and then by taking a part of them again with the fame mark, at the fame

place,at their returne from the Sea, which is usually about fix months after; and the like experiment hath been tried upon young Swallows, who have after fix months abfence, been oferved to return to the fame chimney, there to make their nests, and their habitations for the Summer following; which hath inclined many to think, that every Salmon usually returns to the fame River in which it was bred, as young Pigeons taken out of the fame Dove-cote,have also been observed to do.

And you are yet to observe further, that the He Salmon s ufually bigger then the Spawner,and that he is more kipper, & lefs able to endure a winter in the fresh water, then the She is; yet she is at that time of looking less kipper and better, as watry and as bad meat.

And yet you are to observe, that as there is no general rule without an exception, fo there is fome few

and

Rivers in this Nation that have Trouts and Salmon in season in winter. But for the observations of that many other things, I muit in mannersomit, because they wilprove too large for our narrow compass of time, and therefore I fhall next fall upon my direction how to fish for the Salmon.

And for that, first, you shall observe, that usually he ftaies not long in a place (as Trouts wil) but (as I faid) covets ftill to go neerer the Spring head; and that he does not (as the Trout and many other fish) lie neer the water fide or bank, or roots of trees, but swims usually in the middle, and neer the ground; and that there you are to fish for him; and that he is to be caught as the Trout is, with a Worm, a Minnow, (which fome call a Penke) or with a Fly.

And you are to observe, that he is very, very feldom obferved to bite

at

at a Minnow (yet sometime he will) and not oft at a fly,but more usually at a Worm, and then most usually at a Lob or Garden worm, which fhould be wel fcowred, that is to fay, feven or eight dayes in Moss before you fish with them; and if you double your time of eight into fixteen, or more,into twenty or more days, it is ftill the better,for the worms will stil be clearer, tougher, and more lively, and continue fo longer upon your hook.

And now I fhall tell you, that which may be called a fecret: I have been a fishing with old Oliver Henly (now with God) a noted Fisher, both for Trout and Salmon, and have observed that he would usually take three or four worms out of his bag and put them into a little box in his pocket, where he would usually let them continue half an hour or more, before he would bait his hook with them; I have ask'd him his reafon,

and