96 FISH FABMING I 



objection to the development of this migratory instinct. They 

 are pretty sure to return to their old quarters in due season, 

 and their journey seawards ha made them much bigger, hand- 

 somer, and more valuable fish. The rainbow trout matures at 

 the third vear, but it is of most value for spawning purposes 

 from the fourth to the seventh year. Some little difficulty 

 occurs in connection with its spawning season, seeing that 

 it spawns after the brown trout and before the coarse 

 fish. But this, after all, is a, minor matter that is easily 

 dealt with. It is stated that in some cases the rain- 

 bows are assimilating their spawning time to that of 

 our brown trout, but I have found no actual evidence 

 of this. Ortainly, some of them spawn earlier than 

 others, but this is the case with brown trout also. Attempts 

 have been made to cross Jrideus with Fario. What is to be 

 gained should such a cross succeed I quite fail to see ; but so 

 far I believe it to have failed, for the reason given above, i.e., 

 the difference in the time of spawning 1 , although it might be 

 possible to cross a very late Fario with a! very early Irideus. 

 Summed up, the rainbows would thrive in most of our British 

 waters, but it is inadvsa,ble to introduce them with the ex- 

 ceptions mentioned above where brown trout are doing 

 well. They should be introduced where Fario does not thrive, 

 and should be planted in coarse-fish waters wherever possible. 

 They must have plenty of food; rainbows would starve 01? 

 the allowance that brown trout will do quite well with. They 

 are very game fish, and rise freely to the fly, but would seem 

 to prefer " fancy " patterns rather than the orthodox duns, 

 gnats, and spinners. This is another reason why they should 

 not be introduced side by side with Fario in a, dry-fly fishing 

 stream, although they might ultimately settle down to an 

 Itchen or Test diet, for they have already developed a pen- 

 chant for Mayflies ! What trout would not ? 



Just a word or two concerning Levenensis, Loch Levcn 

 trout. A feeling is rapidly spreading that these are no more 

 nor less than Fario. This much is certain : That at the year- 

 ling stage they are hardly if at all distinguishable* one 



