Spawning. 33 



CHAPTER IV. 



SPAWNING. 



WHEN cold weather fairly sets in, sooner or 

 later, according to river and season, the trout 

 run up into the small side streams, where shallow, 

 rippling water and bright gravel are to be 

 found. Sometimes they come up together in 

 pairs, sometimes singly. In some years the 

 spawning season lasts only a fortnight ; in 

 others, as last year, for eight or ten weeks. 

 This mainly depends on the weather and the 

 state of the main stream. Before the fish come 

 up, the mud should be cleared away, overgrown 

 weeds cleared out, and the gravel raked over, so 

 as to be inviting to them, Shelter of some sort 

 should be given to induce the fish to stop near 

 the beds. Broken or old drain pipes may be 



D 



