RAINBOW TROUT 



(Sal)no iridens] 



THESE trout were introduced into this country from America over 

 twenty years ago. As time went on they were thought to be much 

 superior to the fario as sporting fish. They may be so in their own 

 country, but our climate does not seem to suit them. In a few English 

 rivers they have done fairly well, as also in Blagdon Lake. If left 

 to themselves for a year or two, however, I think they would all 

 disappear. I have had ten years' experience of them in Scotland, and 

 have introduced them into many lochs. They did well for three or 

 four years and weighed about i^ Ibs. ; but after that we saw few 

 of them. Some of them spawned, but never in sufficient numbers to 

 establish themselves. 



Great care must be taken when introducing rainbow trout into 

 a new loch, as most will make good their escape in a few days unless 

 prevented from so doing by means of a heck or other obstacle. They 

 also appear to have excellent memories, for if once hooked and 

 returned to the water you seldom get a second chance of hooking 

 him. Another drawback is that they spawn in April and May, and 

 are not worth catching until well on in the season. It is therefore 

 not advisable to have trout and rainbow trout together in the same 

 loch. The best way to do with rainbow trout is to stock a loch with 

 two-year-olds, and fish for them the following year. If the feeding 

 is good, three-year-old fish should be from i to i^ or even 2 Ibs. in 

 weight. In reservoirs where they cannot get out they grow to a 

 large size ; we have some here from 7 to 10 Ibs. When in proper 



condition they are very good for the table. 



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