unded by a sandy
shore. Here the party stopped and cast their lines. The Professor,
however, used a fly and fished with it at the surface of the water. As
on the previous occasion, he was the first to land a magnificent
specimen, which was so large that he had difficulty in landing it.

"What is that beauty?"

"It is a salmon; or it might be more correct to call it a salmon-trout.
Trout belong to the salmon family, and they are all game."

"Well, he certainly made a fight for it."

"Does the salmon live in salt as well as in fresh water?"

"They have a habit of remaining off the coast in salt water during the
winter months in northern latitudes, and then entering the rivers when
the spawning season begins, ascending the rivers slowly, despite every
obstacle that may be put in their way. When they reach a favorite spot,
the eggs are laid and are hatched out in countless numbers."

"Has it been discovered why they do this?"

"In order to escape their enemies, who seek the eggs. Even with the care
which they take in breeding, millions are destroyed, and it has been
estimated that if all the eggs laid were hatched out the number would be
so great as to prevent navigation along the shores of the coasts where
they thrive. In the rivers of Oregon and Washington the shoals of salmon
are frequently so great in the rivers as to make it impossible for a
boat to be navigated through them."

Harry was awarded with the second catch, which was fully fifteen inches
in length. It had a nearly cylindrical body, covered with exceptionally
large scales, and its head above convex. The striking thing about it was
the color, the back being of a bottle-green, light on the sides, and
silvery white underneath.

The Professor was on hand at once. "You have captured a fine specimen of
the mullet, not considered, generally, as a game fish. It is a
particularly fine table fish."

George came in for his share of luck, as well as John, who seemed to
enjoy the sport immensely. His eyes showed that. It was a pleasure to
all at this opportunity to bring something into the life of the poor
unfortunate so that he might be brought back to light again.

CHAPTER XVI

MUSIC AND ANIMALS

During the evening George suggested that as the trip was to be overland
it might be wise to can some of the fish, or to use some of the
receptacles found in the cave for this purpose.

"We might do that," said the Professor, "or they might be salted dow