98 SEWEN. 



and shoulders ; the X-shaped spots distinct and separate, sometimes occurring only sparingly. 

 After the fish has been some time in the water of a river, the colouration is much more like 

 that of the Common Brown Trout, for which indeed, in this respect, it might be mistaken if 

 hastily examined. Commercially the Sewen is not nearly so important a fish as the Salmon 

 Trout; not, however, because its flesh is a whit inferior in quality, but because it is less 

 abundant than its Scotch relative, and does not find its way much into the markets of our 

 large towns. In South Wales the Sewen is taken by nets in the bays and estuaries early in 

 the year, as in March and April ; they are generally from one to four pounds in weight at 

 that time, and are delicious eating. These fish make their way up some of our rivers for a 

 great distance ; but, according to some observers, the Sewen is a less muscular fish than the 

 Salmon, and has greater difficulty in ascending the weirs and obstructions. I have seen a 

 large quantity of these fish caught by a net in the Dee, close to the residence of my friend 

 Mr. Bigge, at Min-yr-Afon, near Ruabon, and have had an opportunity of noticing the difference 

 in colour to which I have already alluded. 



As a sporting fish the Sewen competes with the Salmon Trout. I am told by the Hon. 

 Henry Butler, an excellent angler, that the best time to fish for Sewen is quite late in the 

 evening, when it Is dusk : a small fly and fine gut he recommends as the most successful 

 apparatus. Dr. Giinther says that the Saliiio cambricus attains to a length of about three feet, 

 and that the female Is mature at a length of from twelve to thirteen inches, weighing 

 occasionally as much as sixteen pounds ; but such a size and weight is, I suspect, unusual. 

 It seems that the term "Bull Trout" is sometimes applied to specimens of this fish, as it 

 is to the Salmon Trout and perhaps to other species of Salmonida. This will be considered 

 when I come to speak of the Bull Trout of the Coquet. 



The following Is a description of a specimen of Sewen I procured at Machynlleth In June, 

 1878: — Total length was sixteen inches and a half; its weight was two pounds; the greatest 

 depth was four Inches and a quarter ; length of head three inches and a quarter ; the 

 maxillary strong, longer than snout, and reaching beyond the posterior orbit of the eye; 

 mandible strong and broad ; praeoperculum with distinct lower limb, its posterior margin 

 waved ; gill-cover with a few round dark spots, sometimes iridescent with pink ; suboperculum 

 generally projecting beyond the operculum ; dorsal fin smoky, with a few darker spots ; adipose 

 fin thick and fleshy, with two or three black spots ; pectoral fin white, with dark narrow 

 longitudinal lines ; ventral white and immaculate ; anal ditto ; tail slightly emarglnate, light 

 smoke-colour, and dark at extremity; the head and upper parts of the back tinted with olive 

 green ; general colour of the body above lateral line bluish, with lighter shades of blue on 

 the sides, spotted with numerous dark X-marks more or less distinct, the spots sometimes 

 confluent; below lateral line there were a few indistinct spots; belly silvery white ; scales small 

 and rounded. 



The number of rays In the fins is 



Dorsal 14. 

 Pectoral 16. 

 Ventral 9. 

 Anal 1 1 — 12. 



The specimen figured was caught In the Dovey near Machynlleth. 



