The Haunts and Habits of the British Otter. 21 



preference to the so-called " coarse fish," if he has 

 the choice; and most coarse fish feed on trout 

 spawn when they get the chance. In trout streams, 

 therefore, Otters '' in reason " must do more good 

 than harm : even in streams where no other fish, 

 nor even eels, are found, as in the mountain burns of 

 the Highlands of Scotland. There the food supply 

 is strictly limited, with the result that burn trout 

 seldom run fewer than five or six to the pound. 

 The Otter, here, does good by thinning out the 

 smaller and weaker fish without affecting the avail- 

 able fish-food, thereby immensely improving the 

 character of the fishing. 



In salmon rivers Otters undoubtedly take salmon, 

 but not where there are other and more easily-caught 

 fish to be had. The damage done in this way is, 

 however, infinitesimal, a 251b. Otter being practically 

 incapable of capturing a salmon (or even a pike) 

 of equal weight ; either of which fish can swim at a 

 rate four or five times as fast as can an Otter. 



On the seashore Otters live on crabs and other crus- 

 taceans, and catch various " rock fish," which they 

 find left in the pools and in crevices among the 

 rocks when the tide has receded. There is a 

 recorded instance of a large conger having been 

 caught in this way ; but that was in Ireland. 



The stories one has read of Otters destroying 

 ducks, poultry, and even grouse poults and lambs. 



