THE SALMON FAMILY. 195 



out" tlie speckled fellows by the caving-bank of the meadow- 

 brook, and from under the overhanging branches of the 

 wooded stream ; or by the scientific angler, who delivers his 

 flies attached to his nine-foot leader — straight out and lightly 

 — ^from his well-balanced rod, and kills his fish artistically. 



He is as game as a bantam cock, and with a pliant rod and 

 fine tackle, a twelve-incher gives as much sport as most 

 other fish of four times his size, on a stout rod and coarse 

 tackle. But let us begin with a slight glance at his habits 

 and natural history ; his unnatural death we will speak of 

 afterwards; though the angler may think it more natural 

 that the Trout should die by his hands, than in any other 

 way. 



Towards the end of August, if you loiter along a Trout- 

 stream, and look into a pool with smooth gliding current, 

 where a spring branch enters ; or wander along the banks of 

 some clear, cool tributary of the main brook, you may find a 

 dozen Trout congregated — sometimes a half dozen or a single 

 pair — and if not disturbed by a freshet, caught by the angler, 

 or snared by the villanous poacher, with his wire-loop, they 

 ^ill remain there until October or November, when the 

 female will cast her spawn — some say in a furrow, made 

 longitudinally or diagonally in the bed of the stream, by 

 rooting with her nose ; others say, more after the manner of 

 broadcast. Whichever it be, the male fish follows imme- 

 diately, ejecting his milt over it. The parents of the future 

 progeny then, as a usual thing, take their course down stream 

 to some deep pool, and there remain in winter quarters, 

 recovering strength and flesh until the ensuing spring, when 

 they move up stream with every rise of water, always on the 

 lookout for something to eat, and ever eager to take a bait 

 or rise at a fly, and reproducing in autumn as before. 



After fecundation the ova assumes a somewhat brownish 



