COMMON TROUT. 115 



of him, the stomach being- distended with them to an unnatural size. The Slob Trout is in 

 its primest condition in January and February, and is then more the shape of a Roach than 

 an ordinary Trout, having a singularly small head, and suddenly swelling out at its base; in 

 fact, a two-pound Slob Trout, in good condition, seems just as if the head of a half-pound 

 fish had been fixed to it, so unnaturally small does it look. My impression is, that this Trout 

 is a species in itself, and not a cross breed between the White and the Brown Trout; if it 

 were a cross breed, I feel certain it would partake of the migratory habits of both these 

 fish. The colour of the Slob Trout is quite different from that of the Brown Trout ; it is a 

 sort of opaque or dirty cream-colour, and a very handsome fish to look at, being spotted 

 with large black and red spots, very much larger than those of the Brown Trout. Where 

 they migrate to in the summer I do not know, for neither are they taken in the nets nor 

 with rod and line. The flesh of the fish may be either a delicate pink or pure white colour, 

 but in either case it is equally well-flavoured, and far superior to either Brown or Sea Trout, 

 or even to the primest Salmon. They give wonderfully hard play when hooked, and conse- 

 quently very frequently get away from the angler, for it is absolutely necessary to use nothing 

 but the finest tackle even when you are fishing on a pitchy dark night. Their weight varies 

 from half a pound up to four pounds." 



I am much obliged to Mr. Haynes for this extremely interesting account, and hope that 

 I may be yet able to get hold of a few specimens, through the kindness of Mr. Haynes, 

 who will, I know, do his best for me, and I trust I may be able to insert a short notice 

 before this work is entirely printed off. I am inclined to think this Slob Trout is a variety, 

 but a well marked one, of 5. fario ; for it is well known that the common river Trout is 

 an inhabitant of brackish water, and also of sea water. Couch has rightly said that the 

 Trouts of our own streams have been noticed many times in the month of May to be quitting 

 the river for the deep Atlantic. "To satisfy myself of this," Mr. Couch adds, "I have 

 procured an opportunity of having them taken in the salt water with a net; and a well- 

 grown Trout has been brought to me that was caught at a considerable distance from a 

 river or fresh water. Under such circumstances a material alteration takes place in the colour 

 of the fish, which becomes of a rich dark brown, with an aggravation of the other charac- 

 teristic tints. It is believed that these migratory examples in no long time return to their 

 native river ; at which season again their appearance is so changed that they have been judged 

 a distinct species ; and we believe that they are the same which Dr. Knox has denominated 

 the Estuary Trout." — {Fish. Brit. hi. iv. p. 230-231.) 



Where difference in the colouration alone of the Common Trout is concerned, one would 

 have considerable hesitation in accepting such differences as indicating specific distinction. 

 Sir William Jardine has figured some of these varieties in his large work. Illustrations 0/ 

 Scotch Salinonida:, where the reader may se^ differences in colouration ; he draws attention to 

 the fact that a variety of distinct colouring or spotting is confined sometimes to only a single 

 loch of moderate size, while in others it ranges through a series of lochs adjoining each other. 

 "In waters of greater extent again, the varieties in different parts of the same loch are very 

 remarkable. Sometimes, almost every bay has its kind of Trout, and the opposite sides of an 

 island, a few acres in extent, oftentimes afford Trout very different in markings and in quality." 

 It is clear, however, that in some cases. Sir William Jardine has regarded the 5. nigripinnis 

 as a mere variety ; a Trout which has, besides a very marked difference in colouration, certain 

 structural peculiarities, which have been justly regarded by Dr. Giinther as pointing to a dis- 

 tinction in the species. The figure No. i, from Loch Awe, for instance, plate ii., is, I think, 

 S. nigripitmis, and Sir William's description agrees well with that species. 



The culture of Trout, by the artificial impregnation of the ova, and by the preservation 

 of the young fish in small reservoirs of pure water, is now quite an institution in this country, 

 and is most successfully carried on by many private individuals, as well as professional dealers. 



