Were it not that some few native streams, far north as Maine, still harbor this royal denizen of the deep, we would have no occasion to include it among our list of fishes. Alaska, Oregon, and California are too distant for our purpose ; the icy rivers that flow into the Gulf of St. Lawrence lie in other territory and are controlled by foreign mastery. Time was when every large stream leading to the coast, from the Delaware to the Penobscot and beyond, was stocked with these fish. But they were driven from their homes by steamers and mill-dams, and poisoned in masses by dust from saw-mills and the acrid chemical waste of factories.

Salmon are eminently a clear and cold water fish. Mud and sewage in their native element are not to their liking. Like Shad, if unrestrained, they return again and again to their original natal streams. Their force and power of propulsion are such that Pickerel never venture to attack them. Usual weight from eight to twelve pounds.

Some few are captured in the St. John's River and Penobscot River; occasionally stragglers enter Lake Ontario by way of the St. Lawrence. Those caught in the ocean show no evidence of feeding. Salmon come and depart in shoals, swimming in deep water.

For tackle use rod from fifteen to eight-teen feet, with click-reel; line from two hundred and fifty to three hundred and fifty feet; leaders from nine to twelve feet; Limerick hooks of various sizes; flies large and gaudy ; gaff-hooks about three inches distant across band ; landing-net. We subjoin a number of hints chosen from the experience of noted specialists. The three principal hindrances to Salmon-fishing are: the trouble in obtaining either a lease of a stream, or a permit for the best part of the season ; the great distances to be travelled, and consequent loss of valuable time ; and the expense as compared with other sorts of out-door amusements. The Canadian Government exercises complete control of the principal Salmon-streams, both in their tidal and fluvial parts. Leases are commonly given for several years.

In Canada, all Salmon-breeding rivers are leased, inspected, guarded, and yearly reported upon by a special commissioner in the Department of Marine and Fisheries. Salmon rivers are also Sea-Trout rivers, and good fishing can only be obtained, except in streams too insignificant to be worth preserving, by taking either a lease of a Salmon stream, or a license from a lessee to fish one. Salmo salar is uncertain. Sometimes he comes early and sometimes late ; sometimes he goes leisurely up the rivers, lingering at the pools, in good mood for sporting with flies, and sometimes, when kept back by a late spring, he goes for head-waters at once, only stopping when compelled by fatigue. Salmon, guided by caprice in the choice of location, so that the stone behind which the fly must fall to give a chance of success, has often to be pointed out by the local assistant. The tackle used is so strong, and generally the nature of Salmon casts so open, that with ordinary skill a fish once fairly hooked has little chance of breaking away.

Alarmed, they move rapidly in the water, and go a distance without stopping. It is necessary to be cautious in fishing them. Wary and scientific anglers have their patience tried in taking this fish, whose instinct leads it to artful and singular efforts to escape. The feeding grounds of the Salmon are swift streams, and deep lakes, with gravelly and pebbly bottoms, where there are easy outlets to the sea; the time for fishing, from May until August. In the first of the season, worms,

, small fish, or shrimp is the usual bait; but in July and August they are partial to the fly. Particular stones are not unfrequently aunted by Salmon with a pertinacity which is remarkable. Salmon begin to run up Northern rivers in April, and stay until the latter end of July, when they return to the sea. It is while thus running that they are taken by anglers and fishermen. They deposit their spawn at the extreme point they reach on the river.

The general proportion of Salmon upon the spawning beds is three males to one female. These males fight with one another, and whether in consequence of the wounds received in these encounters or other causes, the greater number of dead fish found are males. Having selected a pool or run in which he knows that there are plenty of Salmon, the angler generally remains at the same place, shifting his ground a few paces at a time, higher or lower. The usual symp-torn of a bite is a stoppage of the bait, followed by gentle twitching. Sometimes the Salmon takes the bait in a more reckless fashion, and remains nearly motionless for some little time,#and then moves steadily away. This is the moment to strike, and as the bait is invariably swallowed or pouched, there is little fear of the fish being missed. Should the fish move away at once after biting, line and time must be given him to pouch the bait. To provide for the contingency of any sudden moves on the part of the fish, and against any sudden check on the part of the angler, it is wise to keep a yard or two of spare line loose in hand between the bottom ring and the reel. If a Salmon has missed the fly, he will frequently rise a second, and sometimes a third time, and be hooked. When a Salmon has risen, instead of immediately throwing again, let the angler sit down quietly on the bank for a few minutes, and carefully cast over the fish again, beginning a few yards above the spot where the rise took place, and bringing the fly gradually over it. If the fish does not rise, a short interval should be allowed, the fly changed for one of another color, and the same process repeated. Some good fishers advise changing the fly the first time of recasting, and a second or even third time afterward.

Salmon-flies should be dressed with gut-loops, with the double object of strength and durability, and for the purpose of making the fly swim straight when attached to the casting-line. Resist for a moment the inclination to strike ; only for one moment, but long enough to allow the fish to take and turn down again with the fly ; then strike not a slight hesitating blow, but a determined stroke bringing the line up flat, and driving the hook-point well in over the barb. Next to the number of Salmon lost through striking too quickly are those lost from striking too feebly. Strike strongly and hard and repeat the stroke by way of making sure. If the tackle will not stand this strain it is not fit for Salmon-fishing. A weak stroke is worse than useless ; it fails to make the hook penetrate, and it provokes the fish to a violent effort to rid himself of it, and thus lessens the chance of his being hooked.The mode of worm-fishing as commonly practised is simple: a large single hook, say No. 14 or 15, is whipped on to two or three yards of salmon-gut. A supply of lob-worms having been obtained, and, if feasible, previously scoured, the hook is passed through the middle inch or two of two or three of them, the last worm being so put on that no part of the hook or barb is visible. Large split shot should then be fixed to the line about 1 ¾ feet above the bait, to take it to the bottom ; they should not be so heavy as to prevent the stream carrying the bait freely over the stones.