244 FLY FISHING 



trout and rainbow trout (to which I will come 

 presently) have survived ? There remains only 

 the choice of two alternatives. Either the 

 fontinalis have all died from some cause, which 

 did not affect the other fish, or else they 

 all, little and big, young and old, suddenly 

 took to living at the bottom and resisting 

 the temptation, not only of artificial flies, but 

 of drop minnows and worms, with which ex- 

 periments have been made in the hope of dis- 

 covering them. 



This disappearance of the fontinalis is as 

 annoying as it is mysterious, for they were at 

 first most handsome and attractive fish in out- 

 ward appearance ; their sporting qualities were 

 excellent, their flesh brilliant in colour, and the 

 flavour far superior to that of the ordinary 

 trout. 



I now come to the rainbow trout (Salmo irideus\ 

 of which one hundred two year olds were put 

 into this water in February 1891. In 1892 a 

 few were over half a pound in weight, in 1893 

 they were about three-quarters of a pound and 

 rose fairly well. Since then they have not at- 

 tained to more than one and a quarter pounds in 



