22 6 Brown Trout 



the trout become sick and run up the streams. In July and August 

 many of the smaller trout leave Stenness, run up into Loch Harry, 

 and in both lochs are in good condition early in March. 



The Gillaroo trout found in Ireland and in Scotland are con- 

 sidered a distinct species. But this is difficult to understand, as I 

 have caught many of them and, although their shape and markings 

 are different from those of most of the loch trout we see, the difference 

 is all caused by the food in the particular loch in which they are found. 

 If they were all cleared out and ordinary trout introduced, these latter 

 would become " Gillaroo " trout in a very short time. See photograph 

 of one from Loch Mulach-Corrie, Sutherland (Fig. 203). 



THE SALMO FEROX 



Many maintain that this is also a distinct species. I have 

 caught many of these fish in the lochs in Scotland, and have had 

 hundreds through my hands for preservation, therefore I have no 

 hesitation in stating that a ferox is only a trout Salmo fario. Its 

 great size is accounted for by the fact that it has become a cannibal 

 and lives almost entirely on its own species. I have made a point of 

 examining most of those I got in, nearly all of which contained from 

 one to three trout and nothing else. Where there are plenty of trout 

 to feed upon they grow so quickly that they may be 15 to 20 Ibs. in 

 weight in seven or eight years. 



In describing the scales of trout I will try to prove their age. 

 Trout of many shapes and colours are found in Loch Ericht, and 

 when in good condition are shaped like a small salmon. In Loch 

 Rannoch they are thickly spotted and yellow in colour. In Loch 

 Awe some are silvery like a salmon ; some have short heads, others 

 long heads and large teeth, while no two of them are alike. For their 

 size they weigh much more than salmon and far surpass them in 

 strength. When hooked they fight to the last, often escaping after 

 they are in the net or on the gaff. See photographs of them from 

 various lochs. They are usually caught by trolling with artificial 



