18 HULL SCIENTIFIC AND FIELD NATURALISTS’ CLUB. 
Trout occur commonly in the Hulland its tributaries. The tints 
assumed by them vary as their habitats. In Cottingham Beck as it 
used to be, and Cottingham Drain, this was seen in the dusk of the 
evening toa marked degree, for the trout which came out of the low 
dark arches, their secure fastnesses by day, were found to be a pure 
mud colour, and so accurate was the particular tint they assumed 
that it was most difficult to discern them even when the eye was 
directed to the exact position of the fish by the latter causing a 
movement of the water. This movement was consequent on the 
fish leaving its hiding-place with a dart, as was invariably the 
case. Sometimes the trout would see its would-be captor sitting 
by the arch waiting for its coming out, when it would double 
back, leaving two or three disturbances in the mud as the only 
sign of its having been there for the eye of the astonished and 
perplexed observer, who wondered how a fish large enough to 
cause those clouds of mud could possibly have come within a 
few feet of him without being seen. There is no doubt that this 
similarity in colour to the place of its abode is of the utmost 
importance to the trout, and contributes very largely to its safety. 
Trout are very interesting to watch, their every movement being 
imbued with grace. Their fins, even when the fish is not altering 
its position, are always on the move. In this the trout differs 
from every other fresh water fish with which I am acquainted 
except the stickleback. This activity is caused no doubt by the 
fish constantly maintaining the same position in the stream, A 
roach, on the other hand, will swim a little way and then all 
movement will cease, thus allowing itself to drift down stream 
until its inclination leads it again to alter its position. Not so the 
trout. He is constantly on the move, his tail especially main- 
taining a perpetual backward and forward motion sufficiently 
active to prevent the current carrying him down stream. Ever 
and anon he swims with almost inconceivable rapidity after some 
floating object which has attracted his attention, and sometimes 
with an impetuosity which shoots him right out of his native 
element, falling back again with a sound that gladdens the heart 
of an angler. As soon as he has satisfied himself whether the 
morsel is palatable or not, he once more returns to his particular 
watching-place, to enact the same over and over again all through 
the long summer day. A trout was caught at Gibraltar Flat by a 
Hull gentleman which weighed 8lbs. 30z.; and one 13lbs. was 
illegally taken several winters ago at Top Lock. This last, I 
believe, is the largest ever taken from the Hull: The usual run 
of trout, however, in the river is from 4lb. to 4lbs., very few 
indeed being caught above that weight, though several are caught 
each year between 3lbs, and 4lbs. at Top Lock. In the river the 
a 
