166 S^LMONID^ OF BRITAIN. 



■wliereas others appear to ignore size, holding the Truff to "be a young sea trout. 

 The average weight of white-iish are said by some authorities to be from half to 

 three quarters of a pound. In two examples 12-4 and 13 inches respectively 

 in length from the Teign, the gill-covers and form of the head resemble what 

 has been described in the TrufE of the Dart, and likewise agree with small 

 specimens of the Welsh sewin. Teeth— in the smaller example eleven are present 

 along the body of the vomer and five along the hind margin of the head of that 

 bone. In the example 13 inches long, there are four teeth along the body of the 

 vomer, and three on the hind niai'gin of its head. One had 36, the other 37 

 ca3cal appendages. Coloiirs — the largest had much fewer spots on the body and 

 fins than the Dart Truif. 



Some have considered it very improbable that the Welsh sewin, so excellent as 

 food, could be identical with the white-fleshed and insipid* Teign or Dart fish, 

 but alterations as considerable in the value of the flesh of the northern whitling 

 and other local races of sea trout have been observed. While we find as great 

 variations in our brook trout, in accordance with the character of the waters they 

 inhabit and the amount or quality of food they are able to obtain. But, differing 

 as these races do among themselves, whether in size, colour, or even in some 

 structural points, the offspring, if placed in suitable surroundings, may improve, 

 while, on the other hand, the finest breeds will deteriorate in unsuitable places. 

 Should, however, any temi^orary cause, as mine-water in Devonshire I'ivers, (see 

 pp. 55 ante,) have injured the local race of fish, and this cause has been removed, 

 it perhaps becomes worthy of consideration whether it might not be advisable to 

 obtain the progeny of a finer breed from elscwhei'c and introduce them into the 

 water, instead of waiting for the improvement of the local deteiiorated form. 



Fig. 40. Head, natural size, of female Truf, 

 8-2 iuclies long, from the Dart. 



the Erme, salmpn are never seen above the tidal water, and very few even there. If the above 

 fish were young salmon, why should they never appear as full-grown salmon in the upper parts 

 of the river? On the Avon, on the other hand, where salmon have very much increased for the 

 last fifteen or twenty years, the peal and truff are much fewer in number, and the white-fish of 

 the same kind as those in the Erme are now seldom seen, although the river is at all times 

 swarming with the samlets, which are the unmistakable salmon fry. I have not the smallest 

 doubt that the white-fish, peal, and truff of the river Erme are all the same fish in different 

 stages of growth " (G. C. G., Field, February 14th, 1885). Couch considered the white-fish to be 

 the early growth of the peal, and believed the Welsh sewin and the blue poll ^S*. albus to be 

 distinct and separate species. " Old Log," Field, February 14th, 1885, observed, that " curiously 

 enough, I find that the old monks, some five hundred years ago, knew the difference between peal 

 and salmon in the Dart, and in oflScial records specify them both by their Latin names — thus : 

 ' salmones, trutes, peles, et alii pisces.' " 



* Wear Gifford, Field, March 27th, 1886, remarked that " if the best specimens are selected 

 and cooked with care, they will not disappoint those who have acquired a taste for eating bread 

 poultices." 



