114 UNCLEAN TROUT 



shape of insect life, their condition early in the autumn 

 will be good, and a more extended period of fasting 

 may be expected prior to spawning. In some cases 

 they begin to feed immediately after spawning, and 

 if the circumstances are favourable will be clean 

 and in good condition from two to three weeks after- 

 wards. If, however, the conditions are unfavourable, 

 they may not commence to feed for several days after 

 spawning has ceased, and their complete recovery 

 may be relatively delayed if the weather be unfavour- 

 able. Hard frost will also check and interrupt the 

 actual spawning operations. 



The importance of a careful consideration of the 

 above facts when deciding the limits of the close time 

 will be better appreciated when it is thoroughly under- 

 stood that, from the time the fish begin to lose their 

 appetite prior to spawning until they have entirely 

 recovered their condition after spawning, they are 

 unclean and not fit for human food. 



Those fish that do happen to feed as their spawning 

 operations approach and this may happen during 

 the open season appear to suffer at times from a 

 disease of the intestines, and are afflicted with worms. 

 Strict laws should therefore be enforced in order to 

 prevent the possibility of the trout being captured 

 and destroyed prior to their spawning, or when their 

 condition renders them unfit for human food. 



