14 Guide to the British Fresh-Water" Fishes 



when growth is lapitl, numerous complete rings separated by 

 relatively wide interspaces are formed ; in winter, when growth 

 is slower, the rings are fewer, incomplete and closer together : 

 thus broad summer zones and narrower and darker winter 

 zones are marked on the scales. Tiie rings formed during the 

 Parr stage are much closer together than those formed in the 

 sea. When tlie Salmon enters fresh water to breed growth ceases 

 and the edges of the scales become worn and irregular ; if the 

 Kelt gets liack to the sea and resumes feeding new ridges are 

 added outside this irregular edge, which then appears as a 

 " spawning mark." 



The specimens exhibited are a Parr (5) and a Smolt (6), each 

 about 6^ inches long ; a Grilse (7) of 4^ lbs. from the Eiver Moy, 

 Ballina, Ireland, taken in June, 1912; male (9) and female (8) 

 Small Spring Salmon. 8 to i) ll)s., also from the Moy, taken in 

 April, 1912 (in the male the snout is longer than in the female) ; 

 a female Kelt (10) from the Wye, February 8, 1914, presented by 

 J. k. Hutton, Esq. (a lean and dull-coloured fish) ; a female 

 Salmon (11), 46 inches long and weighing 44-| lbs., taken in tlie 

 Wye on April 7, 1912, by the donor, J. A. Hutton, Esq. (hke the 

 Grilse and Small Spring Salmon this is a fresh-run fish, silvery 

 and well proportioned); and a male Salmon (12), 55^ lbs., from 

 the Tay, Sept. 28, 1898 (the produced jaws, curved at the tip, 

 are characteristic of large males). 



13 — 19. Trout, Salmo triUta (fig. 5). — In the sea the Trout 

 ranges from Iceland and Northern Europe to the Bay of Biscav. 

 and as a fresh-water tish it extends to Southern Europe and 

 even to Sardinia, Algeria and Morocco. Trout very similar to 

 ours inhabit the Black, Caspian and Aral Seas and their trijjutaries. 

 In our islands the Trout is found all round the coast, and in most 

 lakes and rivers ; it varies greath in size, appearance, and habits. 

 In some brooks and tarns it averages only 3 or 4 ounces, but in 

 large lakes, such as Lough Neagh, it is said to grow to 50 lbs., and 

 the Sea Trout of the Tweed and Coquet also attain a large size. 

 Many Trout never go to sea ; those that do may descend as smolts 

 when about the same size as Salmon smolts, but they do not go so 

 far out to sea as the Salmon, and often frequent the estuaries. 

 Trout, unlike most Salmon, appear to be annual spawners. 



The specimens exhibited illustrate to some extent the variation 

 in size and colour. They are : (13) Sea Trout, 8 lbs. 4 oz., Mont- 

 rose, July, 1901 ; (14) Great Lake Trout, the so-called " Salmo 



