viii PREFACE. 



John Parnaby, of Troutdale, Keswick, Cumberland, I am indebted for specimens of Winder- 

 mere Charr, and of the American Trout, (Salmo fontinalisj. To Mr. T. J. Moore, the ever 

 obliging Curator of the Liverpool Museum, I owe many thanks for opportunities of examining 

 the fresh-water fishes in that collection ; especially for some specimens of the so-called 

 Azurine, taken many years ago from some of the ponds on the Earl of Derby's estate at 

 Knowsley. Mr. Frank Buckland obligingly sent me a few specimens of the young of the 

 Bull Trout of the Coquet ; for several large specimens (male and female) of this fish I have 

 to thank Sir Walter B. Riddell, Bart., of Hepple, Northumberland, and Mr. Pape, of New- 

 castle. Mr. William Dunbar has given me his opinion as to the Coquet Bull Trout, and his 

 remarks will be found in their place. The Earl of Enniskillen was kind enough to write me 

 a letter containing information which proved useful during my visit to Ireland in the summer 

 of 1878. I must not forget to thank Mr. William Haynes, of Patrick Street, Cork, for. 

 specimens of the Galway Sea Trout, and for his opinion and experiences of the Slob or 

 Tidal Trout of the Lee and Bandon rivers. To Mr. Charles Selby Bigge, one of the 

 Conservators of the Dee Fishery Board, I must express my best thanks for assistance and 

 information. Sir Watkin Williams Wynn, Bart., most kindly placed his little steam-launch, 

 men, and nets at my disposal in Bala Lake, in September, 1878, for the purpose of pro- 

 curing Gwyniad; I beg to express my best thanks to the worthy Baronet, as well as to 

 Mr. Owen Wynne and Mr. Bigge, for accompanying me and superintending the fishing. 

 Lastly, I have to thank the artist for the care he has bestowed on the drawings, which I 

 think cannot fail to give satisfaction both as regards accuracy and artistic effect. 



Although some additional knowledge on the subject of the British fresh -water fishes has 

 been gained since the publication of the works of Yarrell and Couch, — excellent as those 

 works are, — yet much remains at present obscure. It is not often we know the whole life- 

 history of a fish; this is especially the case with many of the Salmonida. The solution of 

 various questions relating to this exceedingly difficult family, can, I think, only be successfully 

 made by persons trained more or less in scientific subjects, who have almost unlimited time 

 and ample pecuniary resources at their command, and of course permission from the various 

 Boards of Conservators throughout the country to take from time to time during the whole 

 3'ear, even with nets of very small meshes, such fish, whether small or large, as they may 

 wish to examine. In this way it would be possible to clear away much of the obscurity 

 that at present exists. 



This book treats of the natural history of the various species of fishes that are known 

 to occur in the rivers, lakes, and ponds of the British Isles; it is not intended to supply 

 information as to the various modes of angling, whether trolling, spinning, bottom-fishing, 

 ily-fishing, etc., adopted in this country. For such information the reader will find all, and 

 perhaps even more than he wants, in the various numerous handbooks which have been 

 published on this subject. 



Pnsto7i-on-the- Weald Moors Rectory, Shropshire, 

 March \st., 1879. 



