212 SEA TROUT. 



it has been taken in a smaller stream than the Salmon would 

 willingly enter, although probably it was not there for the purpose 

 of breeding. Mr. Thompson was the first to notice this fish 

 in Ireland, where, however, it is not rare, although most abundant 

 in the north, and he mentions examples of the unusual size of 

 sixteen pounds. They have also been caught with a line on that 

 coast at some distance from land; but I have never obtained 

 it from nets shot in the sea in the manner or under the 

 circumstances in which the Peal is often caught. 



The food found in the stomach of the Sea Trout has been, 

 two species of the Launce, with some vegetable substance, and 

 in the river it will take a fly. This is particularly the case with 

 the young when in the spring they are ready to go down to 

 the sea; and at this time they are marked on the side with those 

 bands which give the denomination of Parr to the young fishes 

 of two or three species of the Salmon family which are marked 

 with it. Indeed the young of the present species are made to 

 contend with those of the Salmon and Salmon Trout, for the 

 character of being pre-eminently the Parr of the rivers. 



This is one of the fish which under the equivocal name of 

 Trout is sent to London from Scotland in company with the 

 Salmon, but it is less esteemed for the table than that fish. From 

 experiments made in the lakes of Norway it appears that the 

 Sea Trout will propagate when confined to fresh water, but 

 after several years it did not reach the size that is common in 

 situations where its habits of migration have not been interfered 

 with. 



The example described measured only thirteen inches, but 

 this fish grows to double that length; the body moderately 

 lengthened, plump; from the snout to the centre of the eye 

 one inch; to the margin of the gill-covers two inches and a 

 half; diameter of the eye nine twentieths of an inch. Jaws 

 equal when closed, mystache even with the hindmost border of 

 the eye. Teeth along the margin of the jaws, and round the 

 palate; a double row along the middle of the palate, (vomer) 

 in alternate order. Tongue nearly square in front, with two 

 rows of incurved teeth. Eleven rays in the gill-membrane. 

 Dorsal fin at the centre of the body and of gravity, or as 

 quaintly expressed by the Cornish local historian Carew, when 

 Trouts arc of middle growth, they are "cygall poized twixt either 



