THE SEA TROUT. 103 



smelt fislaing. Mullet cauglit in nets sometimes run much 

 larger. 



The Sea Trout. — For the first time this fish is included in a 

 work on sea fishing,* and I include it for the simple and sufficient 

 reason that it is occasionally caught in the sea, and that 

 sea-trout fishing in salt water is a recognised branch of 

 angling. Naturalists and writers on angling have, from time 

 to time, been involved in discussions as to the number of 

 varieties of migratory trout. Personally, I incline to the 

 view that the number of species is very limited, and that 

 several so-called species owe their existence to careless 

 observers, who, on seeing a sea trout differing slightly in 

 appearance from his brothers — a difference brought about, 

 in all probability, either by some peculiarity in his food 

 or surroundings — at once imagine that they have found a 

 new species. I am not sure whether such fish may even 

 be termed new varieties, for under different circumstances 

 they quickly lose their peculiarities, and come out ordinary 

 sea trout. A barren hen ofttimes puts on cock's plumage, but 

 she is none the more a new variety or new species. These 

 remarks seem to me necessary because the reader of this book 

 may find himself considerably puzzled by the various names 

 given to the sea trout in different places. For the purposes 

 of this work, T include in the term sea-trout all those trout 

 which, like salmon, live in the sea, and only come into our 

 rivers to deposit their eggs and increase their species. 



It is while sea-trout are waiting in bays and inlets of 

 the sea for a rise of water in the rivers to enable them 

 to ascend to their spawning grounds, that they are to be 

 caught by the salt-water angler. The best bait is a dead 

 sand-eel, which may merely be dragged along, or be given a 

 brilliant spin by being mounted on a Chapman spinner, 

 without lead on the spike, and with rather small fans (see 

 Fig. 26, page 28). Two triangles are sufficient — one near 

 the shoulders of the bait, the other close to the end of its 

 tail; but opposite to the shoulder triangle a single hook 

 should be lashed, which is merely used to stick in the bait, 

 * Further information on this subject is given in " Angling for Game Fish." 



