CHAPTER XXVI. 



THE COMMON BROWN TROUT. 



ME. BTTSKIN tells us that the blue eye, gigantic strength, and chivalric 

 bravery of Eichard Coeur de Lion in the minds of his adoring soldiers 

 were abstract reasons why he should be king. If this be so, for similar 

 reasons we are justified in pronouncing our acknowledgment of the dignity 

 of the Salmo fario, whose beauty, courage, and strength are, taking size 

 for size, unequalled by any compeer. 



There are two other distinct species of golden or yellow trout, and these 

 will be hereafter carefully dealt with. The Wick and Chess trouts are 

 the close relatives of the Thames and ordinary brown brook trouts, and 

 may be safely comprised under the title of Salmo fario. It may be 

 remarked that many of the distinctions drawn between the fish of different 

 rivers are rather local than reliable, and serve rather to confuse than 

 classify. For all practical purposes, therefore, the common brown brook 

 trout may be said to be identical with all the trouts of our rivers and 

 streams, including the Thames fish heretofore alluded to. Of the 

 imported American (fortinalis) trout I do not deem it necessary for 

 practical purposes to here consider. 



Probably, the first thing which attracts attention when a number of 

 trout are seen together is the difference in colour which exists (especially 

 in summer time) between them. This has been accounted for in various 

 ways ; but the true cause, in many cases, is, and must remain, undis- 

 covered. I, however, suspected that the amount of light which fell upon 

 the fish was one of the principal causes, and organised in consequence a 

 series of experiments for the purpose of determining this. The result 

 proved tuy suspicion, for it was possible to completely change the com- 

 plexion of a fish in two hours from a deep olive to a ghastly grey colour, 

 by a proper management of the light. The difficulty to be got over, 

 however, was the fact that many apparently healthy fish, in direct 



