80 SALMONID.E. 



its character for affording " rare good meat," besides the 

 circumstance of its being really an excellent fish, second 

 only to the Salmon, was greatly enhanced, no doubt, by 

 the opportunity of eating it very fresh. Fordwich is about 

 two miles east-north-east of Canterbury. The stream called 

 the Stour was formerly very considerable ; it communicates 

 with the sea opposite the back of the Isle of Sheppy, and 

 from Fordwich one branch going eastward, again enters the 

 sea at Sandwich. The ancient right to the fishery at Ford- 

 wich was enjoyed jointly by two religious establishments : 

 it is now vested in six or seven individuals, who receive a 

 consideration for their several interests. It was formerly the 

 custom to visit the nets at Fordwich every morning to 

 purchase the fish caught during the night. I have seen 

 specimens of the Salmon Trout from the Sandwich river 

 exposed for sale in the fishmongers 1 shops at Ramsgate, 

 during the season for visiting that watering-place ; and the 

 Salmon Trout is also occasionally taken in the Medway by 

 fishermen who work long nets for Smelts during the autumn 

 and winter. I have obtained a young specimen in the 

 Thames from the men who fish for Shads above Putney- 

 bridge in the months of June and July. 



The following are the notes of Lord Home on the Salmon 

 Trout : " Of this excellent species I can only repeat that 

 in the Tweed they have almost entirely disappeared. These 

 latter afford good sport to the angler ; but I never saw one 

 above seven pounds' Aveight. Of the Phinock of the Spey, 

 the Hirling of the Nith and Annan, the Whitling or Whi- 

 ting of the Esk, all one and the same fish, I can say nothing. 

 There is a little fish, however, which makes its appearance 

 about November and December, but in very small numbers, 

 few only being caught, and of course with the hook. They 

 are called here Silver Whites, and also Black Tails, from a 

 dusky blue spot in the centre of the tail fin. It is a beau- 



