Atlantic salmon are designed to be Tigers of the Water - sleek, and both fast and manoeuverable when necessary. They are able to conserve energy by lazily staying in one spot, and then quickly accelerate to high speed. The wild Atlantic salmon's fins are superb control surfaces. They allow it to cruise on course, or to turn quickly to left and right, or up and down.

The lateral line is an amazingly versatile sensory system. It can detect movement of other fish, but is perhaps even more valuable as a detector of water currents. It allows the Atlantic salmon to determine which direction is downstream, for movement to sea as a smolt.

The same lateral line assists the salmon to find its way upstream, and when a rapids or waterfall is encountered, it helps the salmon locate upwelling currents that will give it a boost in its jumping.