THE SALMON TROUT 65 



deavouring to get forwards at the point of the 

 cairn become entangled in the net, and are taken 

 in great quantities. 



THE SALMON TROUT 



Salmo Trutta, Linn. 



This fish is called by different names in various 

 localities, — white trout, phinock, sea trout, whitling, 

 hirling. It is little inferior to the salmon in flavour ; 

 and being less rich, is I presume more wholesome. 

 It is distinguished, says Mr. Yarrell, by the gill- 

 cover being intermediate in its form between that 

 of the salmon, and grey or bull trout. The teeth 

 likewise are more slender, as well as more numerous 

 than in those fish. The tail is less forked than in 

 salmon of the same age, and smaller in proportion, 

 but becomes ultimately square at the end. 



It is found in most, if not in all salmon rivers ; 

 but it is now very scarce in the Tweed, which I 

 attribute to the spates that are become more 

 sudden and violent in that river than formerly, 

 owing to a more complete drainage of the moun- 

 tains and adjoining lands ; for these fish always 

 prefer the smaller and less turbulent streams. Like 

 the salmon, it remains in the river two years before 

 it puts on the migratory dress, and the males also 

 shed their milt at eighteen months old, similar to 

 the parr (so-called) of a corresponding age. The 

 orange fin, for so the fry of the sea trout is called, 

 so much resembles the common river trout, that it 

 is with very great difficulty it can be distinguished 

 from it. Like the gilse, it returns to the river the 



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