FRESH. WATER TROUT— BREEDING AND CULTIVATION.' 211 



yearling of the local brook trout wliich I measured was Qf inches in length, and 

 was said to be by no means the largest of the lot. 



Respecting the artificial breeding of these fish, whether for stocking depleted 

 waters, keeping up the supply, or the introduction of trout to localities from 

 which they had been previously absent, several questions have to be considered. 

 Are the eggs to be locally obtained, fertilized, and incubated ? (see p. 29 anfe) 

 or is it intended to obtain eggs from elsewhere ? What breed would be most 

 suitable? and at what stage of incubation are the eggs going to be procured? {see 

 pp. 31, 32 ante.) If it is intended to obtain them in the eyed stage, are they going 

 to be hatched in boxes or in redds {see p. 43 ante) in the stream ? Lastly, if 

 stocking is to be effected by means of the young, are one or two-year-old fish to bo 

 selected for the purpose ? 



The race of fresh-water trout that has been most cultivated in Britain is that 

 of the Lochleven at Howietoun, but doubtless were the brook trout similarly 

 treated and its pedigree breeding equally well carried oiit, there would be little 

 to choose between the two races ; but as at present such has not been attempted, 

 so practically the proprietor who wishes for a fine breed has no selection. In 

 small streams, where food is not abundant, it is probably better to supply eggs 

 or young from small forms, and not from the larger framed races, which would 

 be comparatively starved in such localities. Some practical fishermen are of 

 opinion that a naturally-fed trout* is worth at least three artificially reared, for 

 stocking the majority of waters ; and that fish which have daily received a 

 plentiful supply of artificial food, without trouble on their part, deteriorate 

 seriously in condition, if some do not even die, when they are suddenly turned 

 into a stream where food is not too plentiful, and is obtained with some difficulty. 

 But this is certainly not the case in some localities, and full particulars of the 

 best course to pursue under diflerent conditions is to be found in the history of 

 Howietoun and other similar publications on the artificial breeding and stocking 

 of waters with trout {see also pp. 44 and 45 ante), while it may be considered an 

 almost invariable rule never to change water in which young trout arc being 

 carried during transit. 



In some instances it has been surmised that floods, as in the Thames, occur- 

 ring just after the spawning season, are occasionally productive of mischief, by 

 carrying off the weak fish, but in most cases it is probable that they seek 

 safety in some local place of security. If carried over embankments, esjiecially 

 those made by railways, there is more risk of their not being able subsequently 

 to regain the river. 



As regards the cultivation of trout streams much may be accomplished, but 

 degeneration of stock generally will not be arrested by introducing larger forms 

 of trout, for the cause is, as a rule, to be found in absence of sufficient food or 

 some local prejudicial agent, and larger frames require more — not less — diet. 

 Mr. Francis, Fishing Gazette, July 10th, 1886, remarked " that in contiusting my 

 early days of English fly-fishing with my more recent experiences, nothing strikes 

 me more than the different ages at which I have found trout at their best. To 

 particularize streams would involve me in tedious detail ; but I have fully a 

 dozen first-class trout streams in my mind's eye in which the big fish, especially 

 after May, used to be the best for the table, whereas now the judicious gourmet 

 would almost always select for his breakfast or supper the smallest trout which 

 the rules permit to be killed. Where the 2 lb. used of old to be red-fleshed, 

 firm, and combative, 1 find, except in a few specially favoured reaches, that hardly 

 a fish over 20 oz. is worth cooking, and that a § lb. is better for the table, as well 

 as livelier on the hook than his seniors." 



* " Green Wren," in The Field, Dec. 4th, 1886, referring to the greater difficulty which is 

 being yearly observed to get trout to rise and take the fly, suggested that this may be due to inherited 

 instinct, and has been universally attributed to education from over fishing and a bad habit of 

 bottom feeding or preying on the half -developed fly. As a remedy he proposed " to breed trout arti- 

 ficially as much as you possibly can, but do not breed from a single fish which has not been 

 captured by the fly. By this means you would secure a progeny whose inherited instinct, if such 

 a thing exists, would be a taste for the fly, and, let us hope, a distaste for the vulgar and plebeian 

 habit of bottom feeding." 



14* 



