CHAPTER YIII. 



CRAB, CHABB, OB CHABBE. 



Rdbits and Haunts — Fly-fishing — Spinning — Fishing at Night 

 with the Worm. 



HAR* are lake-fish, and tlirive best in still, 

 deep waters of a low temperature. In 

 appearance they much resemble trout, 

 but are more gorgeous in colouring, par- 

 ticularly just before spawning, when their 

 bellies become a bright crimson or scarlet 

 — hence their "Welsh name, torgoch, which 

 means red-belly. The front edge of the 

 dorsal, ventral, and anal fins, and upper edges of pectoral fins, 

 are often a pure white or orange colour. The eyes are golden, 

 and the back a bluish purple, tinged with gold. Should there be 

 any difficulty in deciding whether a fish is a trout or a char, 

 examine the roof of its mouth. If a trout, you will find a double 

 row of teeth running down the central bone, or vomer. If a 

 char, there will only be a few teeth, which will be found in 

 the more forward part of the bone. Char are found on many 

 lakes of the United Kingdom, but vary greatly in their habits 

 in different waters. In Scotland, they rise best to a fly in 

 Loch Doon, Ayrshire ; Loch Achilty, Ross- shire ; Loch Knockie, 

 Inverness-shire (in October) ; the Tarff, Kirkcudbright (late in 



* For many particulars in this chapter relating to char I am indebted to 

 Dr. Day's "British and Irish Salmonidae." 



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