COMMON TROUT. 53 



the roots of trees, stones, &c. in order to deposit its 

 eggs, which are observed to be far less numerous 

 than those of other river-fish*. Yet the Trout, as 

 Bloch observes, is a fish that admits of very con- 

 siderable increase ; owing, no doubt, to the cir- 

 cumstance of most of the voracious kind of fishes 

 avoiding waters of so cold a nature as those which 

 Trout s delight to inhabit ; and their increase would 

 be still greater, were they not themselves of a vora- 

 cious disposition, frequently preying even on each 

 other. 



The merit of the Trout as an article of food is 

 too well known to require particular notice. In 

 this respect however, as in other fishes? those are 

 most esteemed which are natives of the clearest 

 waters. 



The stomach of this fish is uncommonly strong 

 and thick ; but this circumstance is observed to be 

 no where so remarkable as in those found in some 

 of the Irish lakes, and particularly in those of the 

 county of Galway, These are called Gillaroo 

 Trouts: on the most accurate examination however, 

 it does not appear that they are specifically differ- 

 ent from the common Trout, but by living much 

 on shell-fish, and swallowing small stones at the 

 same time, their stomachs acquire a much greater 

 degree of thickness, and a kind of muscular appear- 

 ance, so as to resemble a sort of gizzard. 



Mr. Pennant observes, that it is matter of sur- 



* They are about the size of peas, and of a bright orange- 

 colour. 



