52 THE SPORTING FISH 



The Loch Leven Trout derives its name from the 

 barren lake, and now dismantled castle celebrated 

 as the prison of the unfortunate Mary Queen of 

 Scots ; but it has also been recognized by Dr. 

 Parnell in several other Scotch lochs. 



The X^NO most noticeable points in which the 

 Loch Leven variety differs from the Common Trout 

 are (first) in the colour of the flesh, which is — or used 

 to be — almost of a deep red ; and (secondly) in the 

 absence of any red spots, which are almost con- 

 stantly present in all other varieties of the Salmo 

 fai'io. The red colour of the flesh is supposed, 

 with good reason, to be due to the small species of 

 shell-fish or water-snail, which especially abounds 

 in Loch Leven, and forms, probably, the staple 

 article of the Trout dietary. During the last thirty 

 years the Loch Leven Trout are said to have con- 

 siderably fallen off in colour and condition, owing 

 to the partial draining of the loch having destroyed 

 some of their best feeding-ground. They spawn 

 in January, February, and March. 



The Thames and the Avon are amongst the 

 waters producing the largest breed^ — and I might 

 say the largest individual specimens — of Salmo 

 fario, or Common Trout, with which I am ac- 

 quainted. Thames Trout of 5 lbs. to 10 lbs. 

 weight are common, and captures are on record of 

 fish up to at least 16 lbs. or 17 lbs. The same 

 weights could easily be equalled — and indeed sur- 

 passed — from the chronicles of the Avon. 



