158 



MUSEUM OF ANIMATED NATURE. 



[Trout. 



(non-leap on the Bann, the rpsort ofanfjlerit. Anglinc; 

 I'ur Milmon is only resorted to a^tarecrention, and for 

 lakins; fish fur private consumption; other modes 

 of wholesale capture are adopted for the supply of 

 the markets. Of these one is by the stake-net 

 (Fig. 243D). The stake-net was first brcught into use 

 on the Solway about a hundred vears since, and was 

 termed the raise or rise net. Improvements were 

 ai'terwards made in its construction, and gradually 

 it became general ; those nets were introduced on 

 the Frith of Tay about the year 1797, and proved so 

 Advantageous, being efficient both during the flood 

 and ebb tide, that double the number of salmon 

 were taken than before they were in use. As many 

 us five hundred salmon and grilses have been taken 

 at one time in a stake-net. Stake-nets are only 

 used where the tide is constantly ebbing and flow- 

 ing, and are confined within the limits of low-water 

 mark, as thev are not adapted to the middle of the 

 channel. They are fixed by stakes driven into the 

 rocky ground ; and are visible at several miles dis- 

 tance, serving to warn vessels off rocks and shallows, 

 both by day and night, the noise made by the 

 water rushing through them indicating their vicinity 

 when they themselves cannot be distinctly seen. 



Referring to Fig. 2439, we may observe that there 

 are two lines of stakes at each end, hung with netting 

 in ortlcr to obstruct the progress of the fish in their 

 passage up the river; these are termed leaders, and 

 are intended to conduct the fish into the inner 

 ».-ourt or chamber, within which at one end there 

 «re smaller chambers in which they are taken. 

 The court opposed to the flow of the tide only takes ' 

 ■fish passing up the river with the flood; but as 

 salmon move backwards and forwards in the tide- ; 

 way, some stake-nets are placed in a reverse direc- 

 1ion to catch the fish moving down with the ebb. 

 The spawned or unclean fish are not caught in the 

 stake-nets, nor arc the fry, owing to their keeping in i 

 the middle of the stream ; while the clean fish, in a ; 

 state of vigour, roam at large both through the deep 

 and shallow water. We may add that the narrow 

 line ofstakes begins on the shore at high-watermark ; i 

 it gradually increases according to the increase of 

 ■depth, the deep line of stakes being at low-water ' 

 mark. 



Fig. 2440 represents the stage-net, which has 

 been greatly superseded by the stake-net; it is 

 adapted for the coast or tide -way of a river, and 

 is, like the latter, stretched between high and low 

 water mark. The leader, which terminates at high- 

 water mark, is formed of stakes and rough wicker- 

 work ; the fishermen are stationed on a platform or 

 -••tage above the bag-nets, and see or feel when a 

 fish enters one of them, when it is immediately 

 drawn up to the top of the stage and the fish taken 

 ■out and killed. We may enumerate cobble-nets, 

 \ised in the higher parts of the river, and in pools, 

 jibove the tidal rise ; but as the nets are trailed over 

 the top of the spawning beds, raking them up, this 

 mode is justly regarded as injurious. Cruives are 

 formed by artificial dikes, which act as leaders, con- 

 <!ucting the fish into a trap, or receptacle in the 

 <lam-wall, through which the water rushes, and in 

 which grating of a peculiar structure prevents the \ 

 exit of the fish. 



Fig. 2441 represents a mode of spearing salmon 

 as practised in some parts of Scotland : it is often 

 lermed stream-fishing. A dike of loose stones is 

 -constructed in the river, which ads as a leader to 

 fhe fish coming up the stream, directing them to 

 the channel nearest the bank; at the end of the 

 ■<like there is a hut in which the fisherman waits 

 llie approach of the salmon, which he strikes with a ■ 

 ^ive-pronged instrument. I 



Fig. 2442 represents salmon-spearing by torch- 

 light. This is an animated mode requiring great 

 skill and dexterity. In the long pools of deep clear 

 water, nets are placed in various directions ; the 

 •disttnbance of the water by the boats, and the glare 

 of the lights, terrify the fish, which rush into 

 the nets, while those passing within reach are 

 speared and killed. A somewhat varied method is 

 graphically described by Sir Walter Scott, in ' Guy 

 >Iannering,' and which may, as he says, be called a 

 ■kind of salmon-hunting. The account is as follows : 

 — "The chace, in which the fish is jjursued and 

 struck with barbed spears, or a sort of long-shalted 

 Irident, called a waster, is much practised at the 

 mouth of the Esk, and in the other salmon rivers of 

 Scotland. The sport is followed by day and night, 

 but most commonly in the latter, when the fish are 

 <liscovered by means of torches or fire-grates filled 

 with blazing fragments of tar-barrels, wliich shed a 

 strong, though partial, light upon the water. Upon 

 the present occasion the principal party were em- 

 barked in a crazy boat, upon a part of the river 

 which was enlarged and deepened by the restraint 

 of a mill-weir, while others, like the ancient 

 Bacchanals in their gambols, ran along the banks, 

 <)iandishing their torches and spears, and pursuing 

 (he salmon; some of which endeavoured to escape 

 dtp the stream, while others, shrouding themselves 



under roots of trees, fragments of stones, and large ji five poinids in weight ; in the larger lakes it is to be 

 rocks, attempted to conceal themselves from the J found of ten or twelve pounds; but in the "great 

 researches of the fishermen. These the party in 

 the boat detected by the slightest indications ; the 

 twinkling of a fin, tl>e rising of an air-well, was 



lakes" it will sometimes be found of the weight 

 of thirty or forty pounds. All the rivers and small 

 streams are stocked with trout of delicious flavour. 



sufficient to point out to these adroit sportsmen in 

 what direction to use their weapons." A hundred 

 salmon were often taken during one of these ani- 

 mated excursions, and it is added that " the best 

 were selected for the use of the principal fanners ; 

 the others divided among their shepherds, cottars, 

 dependants, and others of interior rank who at- 

 tended. These fish, dried in the turf smoke of their 

 cabins or shealings, formed a savoury addition to 

 the mess of potatoes, mixed with onions, which 

 were the principal part of their winter food." Spear- 

 ing salmon by torch-light is sometimes practised 

 near the mouth of a river, or in one of the lochs, 

 when the scene is peculiarly striking, resembling 

 those which take place in the north of Europe. 



Fig. 2443 represents the mode of spearing fish by 

 the (Jhippeway Itidians on the River Thames, which 

 rises in the country between Lakes Ontario and i 

 Huron, and falls into Lake St. Clair. This manner 

 of fishing " requires a dexterity in its management 

 which scarcely any but an Indian can achieve. 

 Two Indians occupy a canoe in the centre of the | 

 stream : one poises hmiself on each edge of the | 

 vessel in front, the other in a similar way behind : 

 each has a fish-spear. The canoe, though probably 

 in the centre of a rapid stream, amid rocks, anil 

 shoals, and eddies, is kept perfectly steady, and in a 

 straight course, by occasional thrusts and shoves at 

 any object which presents itself, — an overhanging 

 or sunken rock, or the broken trunk of a fallen tree. 

 The labour of keeping the boat steady does not 

 interfere with the spearing of the fish, which is 

 carried on in silence, and with unceasing attention. 

 The fish, as caught, are jerked off the spear into 

 the boat; they are afterwards handed over to the 

 women, who clean them, and dry them by sus- 

 pending them from a stick over a smoky fire. This 

 mode of catching fish never fails to attract the 

 attention of Europeans, from the dexterity with 

 which it is done, and the seeming danger of the 

 operation. The Indians resort to the streams and 

 rapids in spring and autumn, as the fish are then 

 running — attempting the passes in shoals." 



Fig. 2444 represents the mode of fishing on the 

 ice, as practised by the Chippeway Indians. The 

 scene is Lake Huron, with the lighthouse on the 

 shore in the distance. The fisher or spearman is 

 what is termed a British Indian — one of those 

 located near British settlements, and who are under 

 the protection of our government, receiving yearly 

 allowances in manufactured articles and food, in 

 return for having sold their lands. He is repre- 

 sented in the usual costume worn by these Indians, 

 and engaged in fishing in the ice. During winter, 

 when their supplies of dried flesh and fish are ex- 

 hausted, they resort to this uncomfortable and cold 

 mode of obtaining food. A hole is broken in the ice 

 with a hatchet; a piece of wood carved into the 

 shape of a fish, and coloured to resemble one, 

 having tin fins and tail, and balanced by a piece of 

 lead in the belly, is suspended in the water by a 

 string of gut from a short stick which is held in the 

 left hand. This deception attracts the fish to the I length was twenty-eight inches 



spot, when they are struck by the spear held in the 

 right hand, and brought up. When cold frosty 

 winds prevail, the Indians frequently erect a tem- 

 porary hut of poles and blankets over the hole 

 which they have made in the ice, with an opening 

 in the top to admit the light; this not only protects 

 them in some measure from the effects of the cold, 

 but also enables them to .see the fish more easily, as 

 the rays of the sun on the snow dazzle and injure 

 the eyes. Tliis kind of hut is represented in the 

 engraving. In the distance is a lighthouse on the 

 shores of Lake Huron, and to the left are the rapids 

 of the St. Clair, unfrozen, with Fort Gratia, belong- 

 ing to the United States. Fort Gratia is situated at 

 the mouth of the St. Clair, where it issues from Lake 

 Huron. 



The lakes and rivers of North America yield an 

 abundance of excellent fish, as well as aquatic wild- 

 fowl. The only lake in the great chain of lakes 

 which yields such fish as make migratory excursions 

 to the sea, salmon, &c., is Lake Ontario — the falls 

 of Niagara presenting an eifectual barrier to their 

 visiting the other lakes. But the fresh-water slock 

 of fish in these lakes is sufficiently diversified; 

 amongst the favourite sorts are white-fish, particu- 

 larly those of the Detroit river, the grey or salmon 

 trout, black and rock bass (there are also white 

 and striped bass), pickerel, pike, and fresh-water 

 herrings. Some of the outlets of the lake abound 

 with sturgeon, but in general the flesh of the 

 American sturgeon is but little esteemed. A species 

 of pike, called the Muskanungee, grows to a large 

 size, and is considered by many an excellent fish. 

 In the very small lakes of North America the grey 

 or salmon trout is never found to exceed four or 



2446.— The Trout 

 (Salmo Jario). This excellent fish is spread over 

 the continent, and is common in the British Islands. 

 It delights in clear and sparkling rivers, which 

 have a rapid current, bubbling over stones, and 

 tumbling down weirs and liltle falls, where the 

 picturesque walermill well accords with the attritc- 

 live scenery (see Fig. 24-17) In such rivers trout 

 lurk in the deep pools, in the shadow of large stones 

 or under the precipitous banks during tlie day, 

 bestirring themselves towards evening, when they 

 eagerly pursue their prey. The trout is abundant 

 also in our stream-fed lakes, and those of Scotland 

 and Ireland. The great ditlerence in size and 

 colour which this fish displays in diflerent localities 

 is very remarkable, and has led to the suspicion that 

 it WHS connected with distinction of species ; but 

 when we take into account the variety in the 

 character of the water, and the influence which the 

 soil and the several strata over which it pas-ses in 

 its course have in producing modifications in its 

 quality, connected with the nature and respective 

 abundance of food which dift'erent riveiu aftbrd, 

 according to the soil and general aspect of ihe 

 country through which they pass, we may perhaps 

 account for the dift'erence of size and colour ex- 

 hibited. Still it is by no means impossible that 

 i distinctions of species as well as of mere variety may. 

 be ascertained. 



In the Wye, the Dove, andDerwent (Derbyshire), 

 the trout are numerous but small, measuring from 

 six to ten inches in length on the average ; and in 

 some inky streams that flow over shale in the hills 

 near Buxton, and are impregnated with iron, we 

 have seen numerous trout of small size, and so dark, 

 that, by way of distinction, they might be called 

 black, while those in the Wye at Bakewell, and in 

 the Derwent and Uove, are brightly coloured. Black 

 trout occur in Loch Knitching and also in Loch 

 Katrine, the colour being attributed to the drainage 

 from the boggy moors. 



There are fine trout-streams in Hampshire, 

 Surrey, Wiltshire, and other counties, and splendid 

 trout are caught in the Thames above Hampton ; 

 we have seen trout from the latter locality from 

 nine to eleven pounds weight, but larger have been 

 taken, .some of the weight of fifteen pounds. These 

 noble fish are generally caught by trolling or 

 spinning with bleak, gudgeon, or minnows, but they 

 will rise at the May-fly. To land one of these trout 

 requires no ordinary skill and patience. There are 

 some deep pools in the Thames above Oxford where 

 fine trout are to be captured — Mr. Yarrell records 

 six taken by minnow-spinning, which weighed 

 together fifty-four pounds, averaging nine pounds 

 each. 



In March, 183.5. a male Thames trout, as stated by 

 Mr. Yarrell, of the weight of fifteen pounds, was 

 taken in a net ; its length was thirty inches. In the 

 April of the same year a male trout of eleven 

 pounds weight was caught in the same manner; its 



A few years 



since a notice was sent to the Linnean Society of a 

 trout that was caught on the 11th of Januaiy, 1822, 

 in a little stream ten feet wide branching from Ihe 

 Avon, at the back of Castle-street, Salisbury: on 

 being taken out of the water its weight was ibund 

 to be twenty-five pounds." 



Various kinds of flies, as May-flies, stone-flies, 

 &c., the ova of other fishes, the aquatic larvae of 

 insects, and small fishes, constitute the food of the 

 trout. From experiments which have been made 

 by feeding trout placed in separate tanks, respec- 

 tively on worms, minnows, and dark-coloured watei- 

 I flies, it was found that those fed with worms grew 

 j slowly and had an emaciated aspect; those nourished 

 I with minnows, on which they darted with voracity, 

 I became much larger ; while those to which flies only 

 I were given attained in a short time prodigious di- 

 j mensions, though the quantity of food swallowed by 

 I them was nowise so great. 



i The breeding season of the trout is generally in 

 October, at which period the adult fish ascend the 

 j river and deposit their spawn in the same manner as 

 I the salmon; the under jaw of the male becomes 

 I also elongated and curved upwards. In May the 

 I trout comes into full season, and then acquires the 

 brightest tints and deepest spots, the flesh also being 

 I of a livelier pink and superior flavour. This con- 

 ' dition of the fish continues during the summer, 

 i depending, however, on the quantity and quality of 

 1 the food; hence in some rivers the fish becomes out 

 ' of season sooner than in others. 



In its habits the trout is shy and wary, and the 

 angler's success will depend much on the wind, the 

 sky, the choice of the fiy, and his knowledge of the 

 river in which he angles. On these points, how- 



