28 SPAWNING OF TKOUT. 



fly rivers it does not take place much before the 

 appearance of that insect in the end of May, while 

 in many localities the height of the fly-fishing 

 season has passed for weeks before that period. 

 No specific date, therefore, can be generally appli- 

 cable. 



The trout partakes somewhat of the habits of 

 the salmon in migrating up the stream on the 

 approach of the spawning time in autumn, but 

 not to the same extent. The object, in both cases, 

 is to arrive at a spot which instinct teaches them 

 is best suited for spawning that is, in pure, 

 shallow, running water, towards the spring head. 

 The trout of the main stream ascend towards its 

 source, and into the smaller streams which con- 

 tribute to it ; and those in the latter push upwards 

 and into the still smaller brooks with which the 

 tributaries also have communication, selecting on 

 their way the proper places for their purpose. The 

 important operation of spawning is thus described 

 by Mr. Mudie, in his interesting work, " The 

 British Naturalist : " " The eggs or ova are 

 first deposited, and then the milt over them, and 

 they are then wholly or partially covered with 

 sand or gravel. The bottom of clear running 

 water is the best adapted for the purpose, and this 

 is the kind of ground which the trout instinctively 



