2 THE SEA-TROUT 



understanding of the life-history of the sea-trout — if not also of the 

 trout — will ultimately be arrived at. 



These pages pretend to give only a bare outline of what is known 

 concerning the sea-trout's career; only in a few instances have I 

 ventured, lightly and tentatively, to fill in the details of the picture. 

 As Mr. W. L. Calderwood says, " We require rather fuller knowledge 

 of the habits of this minor salmon." His note upon " Sea-trout " in the 

 most recent Report of the Fishery Board for Scotland (namely that for 

 the year 19 14) leads one to hope that his careful and painstaking work 

 as Inspector of Salmon Fisheries for Scotland will in time bring us to 

 that fuller knowledge. A " Life of the Sea-trout " from his pen would 

 be an appropriate and acceptable companion picture to his " Life of 

 the Salmon." 



I think I have in most instances in the text made suitable acknow- 

 ledgment of such information as has been freely and courteously given 

 me; here, in a word, I may briefly and generally thank all those to whom 

 I am indebted for valuable assistance in the preparation of this book. 



A more definite tribute, however, must be paid to my friend, Mr. J. 

 Arthur Hutton, of Manchester, who has been so largely instrumental 

 in bringing the Wye to its present state of productivity. Mr. Mutton's 

 experience in the reading of salmon scales is, it is safe to sav, now 

 probably unequalled, and he has been so generous as to apply his 

 knowledge definitely on my behalf to the elucidation of a large number 

 of sea-trout scales. He was, in particular, good enough to examine 

 for me a series of scales of Loch Lomond fish with which I supplied 

 him during the season of 19 14. Without the data so derived this book 

 would have been lacking both in interest and value. I may explain 

 that we jointly agreed as to the accuracy of the reading of each scale 

 examined, and if it would be not wholly fair to myself to say that all 

 my conclusions based upon such readings are merely Mr. Hutton's 

 conclusions, it is at least fair to him to say that his greater experience 



