3 o ROD AND RIVER 



men have every facility for taking fish both in 

 and out of season, and nothing is easier than to 

 draw off the water by raising a hatch. The result 

 may be well imagined. It matters little to these 

 people whether the fish are in season or not, they 

 can always get sixpence or a pot of beer for a 

 good fish, and, failing such remuneration, they 

 can consume it themselves. Where there is an 

 efficient water-keeper, the hatches should be pad- 

 locked, and the keys of them kept in his pos- 

 session. 



After they have spawned, trout drop down- 

 stream again to their former stations. The pro- 

 cess of spawning is a somewhat interesting one. 

 The fish, which are at this period in pairs, after 

 they have found a suitable place to spawn in, set 

 to work to clean and prepare it as best they can ; 

 and when they consider it is to their satisfaction, 

 they rush at the bed, both fish taking their turn 

 at the work, and hollow out a grooved channel in 

 it. They then for a time lie parallel to each 

 other a few inches apart, now and again closing 

 sideways together. The female then deposits her 

 spawn in the groove which has been made, and 

 the male milts on it. They then cover the groove 

 over, and the action of the water does the rest. 

 The due preparing of the bed and covering up of 

 the spawn occupy some considerable time. While 

 the female is busy in depositing her spawn the 



