HAIL, Welcome SPRING! much lov'd, auspicious guest! Whose blooming presence fires my grateful breast. (a) The Salmon is also too well known to need a particular description. One has been known to weigh upwards of seventy pounds weight. They leave the fresh waters and retire into the sea at the approach of winter, and return Ambrosial dews and soft descending show'rs, Refresh the earth, and rouse the new-born flow'rs; The grazing herds through verdant pastures range, Delighted at the renovating change; Inspir'd by influence of Nature's reign, They range the wood, or wanton o'er the plain: again about the beginning of April; but some rivers, contrary to all others, as the Usk and Wye, in Monmouthshire, and the Exe in Devonshire, have them in season all the six winter months. The best are found in the Thames, Tamar and Exe, but they are in no great abundance, as they prefer the cold northern rivers: they are, therefore, larger and much more numerous in the Tweed and Tyne. Their haunts are the clearest waters, nearest the spring-heads in summer, the deepest parts of a rapid stream, in the middle, and near the ground; on pebble, chalk, or gravelly bottoms. Salmon-peal are found in the rivers of Devon, Dorset and Yorkshire. They do not exceed sixteen inches. These last chuse deep holes near the brooks, or under the root of a tree. Salmon do not get fat till they have been some time in the rivers, and the nearer the spring-head the better. The best season to commence angling is abont the middle of May. The bleating sheep on sunny hillocks lie, Or seek the brakes t' escape the teasing fly. Herds low their passion; flocks bleat out their loves, And birds with songs salute each new-born day; At intervals the cuckoo joins the song, By nature so bedeck'd in ev'ry part, Blush, human artist, blush, nor boast your art! And, inward working, tunes the heart to love. |