vi BRITISH FRESHWATER FISHES 



at a low price in inland markets, the coarse fishes of 

 our lakes and rivers are not likely to rise in popular 

 estimation. 



However, there are few species that do not 

 interest the disciple of Walton, who captures the 

 larger fish for sport and the smaller ones for bait, 

 and it is to a large extent for the angler that this 

 book has been written, although it is not a book 

 about angling. It is an attempt to present in 

 popular form the distinctive characters of our fresh- 

 water fishes, and to give a reliable account of the 

 main features of their life-history. 



I believe that it will be found that this work is 

 more complete than any of its kind that has yet 

 appeared, for the different forms of Char and 

 Whitefish receive detailed treatment, and natural 

 hybrids are also included. In these groups I have 

 been able to examine much larger series of specimens 

 than have hitherto been available, thanks to the 

 kindness of a number of correspondents who have 

 sent me Char, Powan, Pollan, Cyprinoid hybrids, etc., 

 and during the last few years I have described 

 several new forms of considerable interest. 



But much still remains to be done ; I am still 

 uncertain as to the occurrence of Pollan in Corrib 

 and Killarney ; I know that Char inhabit a number 

 of lakes from which I have not been able to get 



