THE COMMON BROWN TROUT. 213 



fever." It carries off immense numbers during the time when they are 

 absorbing the umbilical vesicle, and immediately after. The actual cure 

 is not discovered yet, for the reason that the cause is unknown. Not- 

 withstanding this, the progress which pisciculture has made is remark- 

 able and worthy of all credit. 



The foregoing remarks apply to Thames trout as well as the ordinary 

 fish, notwithstanding the contention that this splendid specimen of the 

 genus is a salmon trout or cross-bred fish. Indeed, Mr. Buckland failed 

 in his attempts in 1864 to produce a cross at all. I do not, however, 

 assert that such an event is an impossibility, but I am convinced, from 

 careful examination of structure and habits, that the Thames trout is 

 a Salmo fario, distinct from his smaller brethren only on account of size 

 and pluck. 



In order to render the identity of the Thames trout with this species 

 more marked, just compare him with the Salmo trutta, or the great lake 

 trout (Salmo ferox) , or the bull trout (Salmo eriox) , and the dissimilarity 

 is as apparent as his likeness, ichthyologically, to the brown trout is plain, 

 especially to the trout of the Wick. Strangely enough, however, at pre- 

 cisely that weight which other trout rarely attain the Thames fish begins 

 to grow, apparently. It is seldom one gets even a Chess, Colne, or Wick 

 trout above 31b., and it is rare that the Thames trout is caught below 

 this standard. A few recorded weighings of captured Thames trout 

 occur to me at this moment, which will serve to show the capacity for 

 growth possessed by this fish. Tarrell speaks of one 151b. caught in 

 1835. There is one at Marlow, at a well-known hostelry, which scaled 

 quite 161b., I should think. In May, 1877, one was caught at Marlow 

 which weighed 10}lb. On May 31, 1834, one was caught by Sir 

 Samuel Hawker which weighed 141b. ; and some years ago a Thames 

 trout was picked up at Weybridge which scaled 23lb., though out of 

 condition. That this was a veritable trout I feel certain, although Mr. 

 Buckland has thrown doubts upon it. There are peculiarities about it 

 which are not to be perceived in connection with the salmon. Its length 

 was 40in. and girth 22in. As old age creeps on the Thames trout it 

 seems to grow deformed, like some bird of prey, about the muzzle or 

 beak, so that it cannot eat. I think the average limit of size for a 

 Thames trout is about sixteen pounds. 



By the Act 1 Elizabeth, cap. 17, no trout are allowed to be taken 

 in the Thames measuring less than Sin. from eye to fork. The legal 

 Thames close time for this fish is from the 10th of September to the 25th 

 of January ; but the Thames Angling Preservation Society have wisely 

 extended it to the 31st of March, a very proper regulation, which is 

 seldom infringed by respectable anglers. 



