PISCICULTURE AND NATURAL HISTORY 105 



spawning, the dates on which the trout in their immediate 

 neighbourhood commence and cease to spawn, and the length 

 of the period taken by trout to recover from their spawning 

 operations. 



TIMES OF SPAWNING 



From the information which was then placed at my 

 disposal, and which has since been confirmed by my own 

 experience, it may be taken as certain that the general 

 limit of the period during which wild and domesticated trout 

 spawn is from October I5th to the end of January, although 

 trout are known to spawn as late as the middle of February. 

 The average period during which most trout spawn, 

 however, may be accepted as occurring between October 25th 

 and January I2th, the temperature of the weather and the 

 amount of water in the rivers considerably affecting even 

 this early or late spawning season. Trout in their natural 

 condition suffer a loss of appetite commencing from eight to 

 three weeks prior to spawning, this loss of appetite depending 

 to a considerable extent on their condition towards the end 

 of the fishing season. If the trout have experienced a warm 

 summer, with plenty of food in the 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 three to four 

 weeks afterwards. If, however, the conditions are unfavour- 

 able, they may not commence to feed for several days after 

 spawning has ceased, and their complete recovery will be 

 relatively delayed if the weather be unfavourable. 



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 understood that, 



