232 COMMON TROUT. 



of the shifting of the gravel of the river, but there is no record 

 of its having ever been caught. 



The following narrative, derived also from Mr. Daniel, will 

 not only amuse, but serve to shew that a moderate degree of 

 confinement will not limit the growth of the Trout, nor interfere 

 with its appetite. Mr. Toomer had built a stew in which he 

 fed many Trouts, one of which, that weighed three pounds and 

 a half, had been caught in the river at a small distance, and 

 its size and strength soon enabled it to become the master of 

 all the others that were in the stew before him. In about a 

 year this fi.sh, which had received the name of Fuller, and was 

 an object of particular attention, had grown to about nine pounds, 

 five of which had been added to his weight between March 

 and October, at which latter date its length was twenty-seven 

 inches. Its appetite was great, as was its activity; and the 

 body was beautifully spotted. The food, which was not always 

 abundantly bestowed, was worms, minnows, or the entrails of a 

 calf finely chopped, but unless much pressed by hunger it neg- 

 lected them by day. It is at an hour before dark that it begins 

 to move about, and then Fuller begins to exercise his tyranny 

 over the rest. He chooses to feed alone on the food thrown 

 to him, and not at all in haste; but when he looks round, all 

 the smaller Trouts dart off into their hiding places, at which 

 time he sails round to see that they have all withdrawn, and 

 he repeats the circuit at every little interval of his feeding. 

 About a hundred and twenty-five minnows formed the complement 

 of a meal, and, in devouring these, woe be to any one of the 

 smaller tribe that ventured to intrude; except, indeed, a single 

 favourite, which he appeared to have selected for a companion. 

 It was only when the feast had ended that others were permitted 

 to scramble for what was left. The greatest amount of activity 

 was when the wind was brisk. Fuller's fate was at last 

 unfortunate in being stolen from the stew. 



It is scarcely necessary to say that the Trout is highly 

 esteemed for the table; but there is great difference according 

 to the situation in which they are caught. 



Instances have been reported not unfrequently of the very 

 large size to which this fish has sometimes grown; but in the 

 generality of cases it is probable that this is a mistake, which 

 has arisen from confounding it with the Lake Trout: and the 



' 





