172 



were small fish, about ^ or J-lb. weight, and were equivalent to our herhng of 

 the Annan river, which is the young state of Salmo trutta in its first appearance in 

 the rivers after having gone to the sea in a migratory dress. This I have seen, 

 and have the specimens. I understand, however, that the term sewin is applied 

 also to a fish of from ij to 3 lbs., in all probability equivalent to our Annan sea 

 trout ; but this I have not proved. I shall send you our herling (young S. trutta) 

 and S. albus) to compare. This would be quite a legitimate part of any local 

 collection as illustrating the subject (you know I object to miscellanea in local 

 collections), and would fix the species of some of those fish which are so often 

 locally mentioned. As an instance of the disadvantage of using local names, and 

 without attention to what they are applied, I am at present trying to make out 

 the geographical distribution of the common salmon, and the difficulty of doing 

 so, with any satisfaction to your own mind that you are right, is very great. 

 Plenty of notices of salmon over nearly all the world ; but what are they ? 

 Certainly all are not our British S. salar." 



THE SALMONID^ OF HEREFORDSHIRE. 



To the Editor of the Hereford Times* 



Sir, — In a communication by Sir W. Jardine to the late President of the 

 Woolhope Naturalists' Field Club, inserted in your last publication, in reference 

 to Mr. Wheatley's paper on the Salmonidse of Herefordshire, Sir William makes 

 some interesting remarks on the breeding of salmon, but appears sceptical as to 

 the rare habitats of the Salmo eroix or sewin, and of the Salmo trutta or salmon 

 trout, in the rivers of this county ; and appears desirous of eliciting some further 

 mformation. As I have been acquainted from long experience with the rivers 

 of this county, as well as with most other rivers in the kingdom frequented by the 

 three species of migratory Salmonidse, and have devoted some attention to the 

 subject, I would beg permission to make a few observations. 



The S. eroix is the sewin of South and North Wales, in the rivers of which, 

 especially the former, they are numerous ; as also in most of the rivers of Scotland, 

 instance the Tweed and its tributaries, in one of which, the Teviot, they attain a 

 considerable size. Those of 2 to 4 lbs. weight are called " square tail," those 

 of 6 lbs. and upwards " round tail " ; so termed because the ultimo fin presents 

 that appearance at their various ages. The fish is thick and chubby about the 

 head and neck, as compared to the salmon (S. salar) ; hence, I presume, the 

 prevailing name in Scotland of " bull trout." Its flesh is paler and inferior 

 to the S. salar. 



The Salmo trutta, or salmon trout, is, according to my experience the least 

 distributed of the tribe ; but it prevails in many of the rivers of North Wales, 

 where I have captured them from i to 3 lbs. weight, and especially at a small 

 river at Bangor (not the Ogwen). Its flesh is equal to the true salmon, and of 

 high colour ; it is shorter in proportion than the other two species, the number 

 of vertebrae being 58, the S. eroix 59, and the S. salar 60. 



* From the Hereford Times, November 8th, 



