24 6 The Char 



are red, white, and black spots along the sides as well as on the tail 

 and dorsal fin. The fins are reddish pink, and the outer edge is 

 tipped with white. Altogether it is a very beautiful fish. Little use 

 is made of them in Scotland, although they are excellent for the table. 

 At Windermere they are caught in nets, and when preserved are 

 sold at a higher price under the name of " Potted Char." If, how- 

 ever, all these pots were examined carefully, many of them would be 

 found to contain small trout instead of char. 



At one time Loch Leven contained char of a large size, many of 

 them weighing 2 to 3 Ibs., but they are no longer found there. No 

 doubt the lowering of the loch accounts for this, as they would be 

 pushed on to the shallows during a storm and the wind would drive 

 them ashore as it does the perch. After a storm I have seen the shore 

 strewn for miles with perch. Char run up the rivers to spawn in 

 October, and the process of spawning is the same as that of the trout. 



Another char, Salmo fontinalis, or American char, has been 

 introduced into this country during the last thirty years, but up to the 

 present time I do not know of any place where they have established 

 themselves. They seem to do so for a time in lochs, but usually 

 soon disappear. They are very handsome fish, and closely resemble 

 our own char. 



