PEAT,. 201 



above fifty fathoms, we conclude that this fish swims near the 

 surface on such occasions; as it does also in summer near the 

 land, when drawing near the accustomed river; in which 

 situation it is fished for with a moored and floating net. Not 

 unfrequently also it takes a bait far out at sea, when the line 

 is kept in motion, as in whiffing for Pollacks; and it even 

 seems to be then eager for prey, which the Sea Trout never 

 is, and the Salmon rarely. 



An example caught at a considerable distance from land in 

 the same net with Mackarel, had its stomach filled with very 

 small fishes, on which also the latter had been gorging them- 

 selves. There is reason to believe, however, that in the Peal, 

 as in most of the Salmon tribe, digestion is quickly performed, 

 so that the stomach is usually found empty. When this fish 

 has reached the coast it soon passes into the river, and in 

 some cases they enter in considerable numbers, bearing with 

 them the same kind of parasitic animal as the Salmon, but 

 which soon quits its hold as in that fish. The rivers where 

 they prefer to resort are often such as from their limited depth 

 the Salmon may hesitate to enter, but so far as observation 

 extends, a strong enticement seems to be that the entrance is 

 floored with gravel or sand. It also appears that they will 

 readily spring above a moderate fall of water, but of course 

 with inferior powers to the lordly Salmon; and the inducement 

 for thus seeking the flowing stream is probably the same as 

 that which influences that fish; which we suppose to be the 

 state of obesity or fulness that has been produced by an abundant 

 supply of nourishing food. But the larger proportion do not 

 continue in fresh water longer than about the middle of August, 

 although in a few instances they have remained to September; 

 and during this time they may be fished for with a worm or 

 fly; but they are more usually sought after with a draw-net. 



It is among the most remarkable circumstances connected 

 with the history of this family of fishes, that among some of 

 the species the proportion of the sexes varies in a very great 

 degree; and we find this noticed so long ago as in the time 

 of Willoughby and Ray, by whom it is said that the Branlins, 

 or Fingerlins, are all of them males; and Mr. Dillwyn, in his 

 work on the Fauna of Swansea, observes that "Mr. Talbot has 

 found in his streams at Margain that the Bull Trout are 



VOL. IV. 2 D 



