STOCKING 239 



advantage, as they do in the native loch from which 

 he takes his name. 



In eulogising the trout of Loch Leven much has 

 been said and written about the flavour, the firmness, 

 and the pinkness of his flesh. I hope I shall not be 

 accused of wounding ' national susceptibilities ' when 

 I say that the question is sometimes asked how far 

 these qualities are retained in places where natural 

 food, and particularly the water- shrimp, is not abun- 

 dant. It would however be a dangerous heresy to 

 dispute the claim of Levenensis to share with Fario 

 the honour of having earned for his species the proud 

 title of * the venison of the waters.' 



That beautiful variety, the rainbow trout, came to 

 us originally from America. His brilliant hues have 

 fairly won for him the name he bears, while, in point 

 of shape, I might almost say that he satisfies the trout- 

 breeder's ideal of perfection. 



If Levenensis has been known in some waters to 

 develop a tendency to grow long and slim ; the rain- 

 bow's habit of growth is invariably short and thick. 



A splendid surface feeder, he will readily accom- 

 modate himself to new water and will, under favour- 

 able conditions, grow with extraordinary rapidity and 

 to a great size. It is not an uncommon thing for 

 rainbow yearlings to be caught three-quarters of a 



