Notes and Letters on the Natural History of Norfolk: More Especially on the Birds and FishesBrowne, Thomas, Sir
History
Notes and Letters on the Natural History of Norfolk: More Especially on the Birds and Fishes
Browne, Thomas, Sir
Natural history -- England -- Norfolk
[92] The Salmon (_Salmo salar_) is at the present day very rarely
found in our rivers, and those met with are, as a rule, male Kelts
which have strayed into unsuspected situations after floods; a
singular exception occurred on the 20th May, 1897, when one
weighing 6 lbs. was taken on a fly in the river above Stoke Holy
Cross Mill; this fish is preserved in the Norwich Museum. Another
curious capture of which I heard (but did not see the fish)
occurred on the 1st August, 1898, when a salmon, also of 6 lbs.
weight, jumped into a small boat towed behind a yacht which was
sailing across Breydon Water. That the salmon was at one time a
recognised visitor to our rivers is evident from the following
extract from the Norwich Court of Mayoralty Book under date 2 Novr.
1667: "It is ordered that the bell man give notice that if any
person shall take any Salmons from the Nativity of our Lady unto
St. Martin's day, or destroy any young Salmons by netts or other
ingens from the midst of April until the Nativity of St. John
Baptist shall be punished according to the law." The Salmon is the
host of several parasites both internal and external. Fresh run
Salmon are generally infested with a "Sea-louse," which quickly
perishes in freshwater; not so, however, with the troublesome
worm-like creature, the subject of Browne's experiments; it is
known as _Lernæa salmonis_, and is only found on the gill-covers of
spent Kelts; it is not got rid of till the fish returns to the salt
water. Browne may be excused being rather sceptical as to the
identity of the clean run Salmon and the spent Kelt, for no greater
contrast can be imagined than that which exists between the
two--the male in the "redding" season develops the unsightly hooked
mandible, which so puzzled the worthy doctor, and both in colour
and form is as hideous an object as can be imagined. Bécard
Gallorum (not _Beccard gallorus_), _i.e._, the fish called "Bécard"
by the French (see second letter to Merrett), refers to the use of
a name still applied in France to a large Cock Salmon, and
"Anchorago" is the name under which the fish was described by
Scaliger, whose book I have not seen. Dr. Günther tells me that
Artedi, "Ichthyologia," Pt. v., p. 23, quotes this name as a
synonym of the Salmon.
The Riuers lakes & broads[93] abound in [the Lucius or _added above_]
pikes of very large size where also is found the Brama or [breme
_crossed out_] Breme large & well tasted the Tinca or Tench the Rubecula
Roach as also Rowds and Dare or Dace perca or pearch great & small.
whereof such [as] are are in Braden on this side yarmouth in the mixed
water [are gen _crossed out_] make a dish very dayntie & I think scarce
to bee bettered in England. butt the Blea[k] [_Fol. 36_] the chubbe the
barbell [I haue not obserued in these riuers _crossed out_] to bee found
in diues other Riuers in England I haue not obserued in these. As also
fewer mennowes then in many other riuers.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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