52 THE SPORTING FISH 



The Loch Leven Trout derives its name from the 

 barren lake, and now dismantled castle celebrated 

 as the prison of the unfortunate Mary Queen of 

 Scots ; but it has also been recognized by Dr. 

 Parnell in several other Scotch lochs. 



The two most noticeable points in which the 

 Loch Leven variety differs from the Common Trout 

 are (first) in the colour of the flesh, which is or used 

 to be almost of a deep red ; and (secondly) in the 

 absence of any red spots, which are almost con- 

 stantly present in all other varieties of the Salmo 

 fario. The red colour of the flesh is supposed, 

 with good reason, to be due to the small species of 

 shell-fish or water-snail, which especially abounds 

 in Loch Leven, and forms, probably, the staple 

 article of the Trout dietary. During the last thirty 

 years the Loch Leven Trout are said to have con- 

 siderably fallen off in colour and condition, owing 

 to the partial draining of the loch having destroyed 

 some of their best feeding-ground. They spawn 

 in January, February, and March. 



The Thames and the Avon are amongst the 

 waters producing the largest breed rand I might 

 say the largest individual specimens of Salmo 

 fario, or Common Trout, with which I am ac- 

 quainted. Thames Trout of 5 Ibs. to 10 Ibs. 

 weight are common, and captures are on record of 

 fish up to at least i6lbs. or 17 Ibs. The same 

 weights could easily be equalled- and indeed sur- 

 passed from the chronicles of the Avon. 



