BRITISH FRESH-WATER FISHES 



be insufficient to reveal all the mysteries of its life." 

 The noted astronomer was right, and if those who are so 

 fond of manufacturing species would take his dictum to 

 heart, it would be all the better for Natural History, and 

 would not deter the many from taking an interest because 

 of the high falutin' of the privileged few. A Trout is a 

 Trout, and whilst in our own rivers, ponds, lakes, lochs, 

 streams, and brooks this favourite game-fish does exhibit 

 great variety in colour, marking, and size, it is its Hfe- 

 history we wish to consider, and we can afford to leave 

 the question above mentioned to those whose quest does 

 not, by its very nature, take them to where the wind 

 whispers beneath the pliant willows, and the Kingfisher 

 — like a bolt from the blue — flashes past for one wonder- 

 ful moment when Summer is aglow with life. There 

 are Trout in our seas, there are Trout in our fresh waters. 

 There are those which ascend fresh water, there are 

 others which descend to salt. Some Trout are always 

 found in fresh water, and whilst food, temperature, 

 climate, light, and environment all have some, and at 

 times very marked, efiect upon these various water- 

 dwellers, the lives they lead are very much the same, and 

 the Trout known to us since boyhood is good enough for 

 our study. Trout then are, above all, lovers of pure, 

 fast-running streams. That they resort to lakes and 

 other land-locked waters is true, and to all intents and 

 purposes flourish there, if conditions are suitable and the 

 food supply is plentiful. They inhabit deep as well as 



shallow water, for I have myself caught Salmo trutta 

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