THE SALMON-TROUT 251 
abandoned, and they remain still in undisputed possession of 
the Coquet.* Now, it is to be noted that both the Coquet 
and the Aln possess a very large stock of common yellow trout 
(Salmo fario), The late Sir Alexander Gibson-Maitland, who 
had opportunities, unrivalled in this country, of studying 
the phases of salmonoid fish in his extensive hatcheries at 
Howietown, held very strongly the belief that Salmo eriox 
and Salmo fario were difterent forms of the same species, one 
migratory, the other stationary. He told me that spawn 
taken from bull-trout produced fish which passed through the 
ordinary stages of parr and ‘‘orange-fin.” Under normal 
circumstances, these would have passed to the sea and returned 
as bull-trout ; but, when prevented from migration, they 
developed the ordinary character, coloration, and habits of 
fresh-water trout. I offer no opinion upon this startling 
statement; but if it should prove well founded (and the ex- 
periment is surely worth repeating), it follows that fresh-water 
trout and bull-trout are interchangeable, and that any attempt 
to extirpate the latter must include measures for the suppression 
of the former. 
The Salmon-Trout, or White Trout (Salmo trutta) 
Fins. TEETH. 
As in the salmon. As in the salmon. 
There is the utmost conflict of authority as to the nomen- 
clature and number of species among the anadromous or 
* Tt has been stated, but I am unable to vouch for its accuracy, that 
there existed until the year 1900 a weir across the Coquet up to which 
the tide flowed, and that salmon would not attempt to surmount such 
an obstacle until they were clear of the estuary. The statement proceeds 
further to the effect that this weir has now been removed, and that true 
salmon have at last found their way into the Coquet. Seeing that the 
tide flows up to Teddington Weir, it seems desirable that those who are 
concerned in the attempt to restore salmon to the Thames should satisfy 
themselves as to the accuracy of this report. 
