196 Brown Trout 
the trout become sick and run up the streams. In July and August 
many of the smaller trout leave Stenness, run up into Loch Harry, 
and in both lochs are in good condition early in March. 
The Gillaroo trout found in Ireland and in Scotland are con- 
sidered a distinct species. But this is difficult to understand, as |] 
have caught many of them and, although their shape and markings 
are different from those of most of the loch trout we see, the difference 
is all caused by the food in the particular loch in which they are found. 
If they were all cleared out and ordinary trout introduced, these latter 
would become ‘“ Gillaroo” trout in a very short time. See photograph 
of one from Loch Mulach-Corrie, Sutherland (Fig. 168). 
THE S4LMO FEROX 
Many maintain that this is also a distinct species. I have 
caught many of these fish in the lochs in Scotland, and have had 
hundreds through my hands for preservation, therefore I have no 
hesitation in stating that a fevox is only a trout Salmo fario. Its 
great size is accounted for by the fact that it has become a cannibal 
and lives almost entirely on its own species. I have made a point of 
examining most of those I got in, nearly all of which contained from 
one to three trout and nothing else. Where there are plenty of trout 
to feed upon they grow so quickly that they may be 15 to 20 Ibs. in 
weight in seven or eight years. 
In describing the scales of trout I will try to prove their age. 
Trout of many shapes and colours are found in Loch Ericht, and 
when in good condition are shaped like a small salmon. In Loch 
Rannoch they are thickly spotted and yellow in colour. In Loch 
Awe some are silvery like a salmon; some have short heads, others 
long heads and large teeth, while no two of them are alike. For their 
size they weigh much more than salmon and far surpass them in 
strength. When hooked they fight to the last, often escaping after 
they are in the net or on the gaff. See photographs of them from 
various lochs. They are usually caught by trolling with artificial 
