THE SALMON FAMILY 55 



In another year's time the trout has grown so that 

 he is now from five to twelve niches in length, and is 

 known as a " two-year-old." 



In the autumn of her third year, the female trout 

 goes up to the spawning ground to deposit her eggs. 

 Here she will receive the attentions of a male fish, many 

 of whom are already on the ground. Sometimes quite 

 a small male will mate with the female, but if the trout 

 are present in any numbers a larger fish is sure to drive 

 him away, and then the smaller fish will have to try 

 his luck with another mate. Should, however, the two 

 cock fish be about the same size, a lively battle will 

 ensue, and often the scales are torn off their backs as 

 they viciously bite each other. 



As a young fish, the trout at the spawning season 

 becomes of a dark shade, but the colours are very 

 intense and the red spots on his body more than usually 

 brilliant. Later in life the trout ceases to put on this 

 intense coloration, and instead the skin becomes spongy 

 and partially overlaps .the scales. 



In consequence of his numerous enemies, a trout 

 seldom reaches old age, but when he does so, he loses 

 his symmetry of form, for the body wastes and the 

 fish appears to be all head, while the lower jaw is pro- 

 longed upwards as an ugly hook. 



We next turn our attention to the salmon. There 

 are many reasons why this fish excites such general 

 interest. He appeals to the fisherman because he is the 

 prince of sporting fishes. His elegance of shape and 



