112 SALMON1D.E. 



According to Sir William Jarcline, this fish, as far as can 

 be traced, seems to have been first noticed about forty-five 

 years since by the late Mr. Morrison of Glasgow, who 

 used to exhibit them to his friends as the trophies of his 

 expeditions. The first specimens taken in Loch Awe by 

 Mr. Selby and Sir William Jardine were considered as a 

 species undescribecl and new to Britain ; and the name of 

 Salmo ferox was given to it from its extreme voracity and 

 rapacious habits. M. Agassiz, who saw specimens of this fish 

 when he was in Edinburgh, pronounced it to be different 

 from any of the large Continental species. 



" In Scotland this fish appears to be generally distributed 

 in all the larger and deeper lochs. Loch Awe, Loch Lag- 

 gan, the upper end of Loch Shin, Lochs Loyal and Assynt, 

 they certainly inhabit, roving indiscriminately, and feeding 

 almost entirely upon the smaller fish. By persons residing 

 on the banks they are taken by night-lines, few rising at the 

 artificial fly ; but they may always be taken by strong troll- 

 ing tackle, baited with a small Trout. They are extremely 

 voracious, and, having seized the bait, they will allow them- 

 selves to be dragged by the teeth for forty or fifty yards ; 

 and, when accidentally freed, will immediately again seize 

 it." 



This Great Trout is almost entirely confined to the lochs, 

 seldom venturing far either up or down any of the streams 

 communicating with them, and never descending to the sea. 

 It is known to spawn in September. 



The most usual mode of fishing for this Great Lake Trout 

 is from a boat, which is rowed gently through the water ; the 

 bait, as before mentioned, a small Trout, guarded by six or 

 eight large hooks ; the rod and line of great strength ; for this 

 fish is considered to be even stronger than a Salmon of the 

 same size, but not so active. Young fish from one to two 

 pounds' 1 weight rise freely to the usual Trout flies. 



