THE FISHERY. 495 



At the present time we have several varieties, and Dr. Giinther, 

 the distinguished ichthyologist, has pointed out in the Catalogue of the 

 British Museum that there are not only outward, but structural differ- 

 ences amongst the trout in my water. He reports upon seven speci- 

 mens, from 9^ to 14 inches long, taken from my garden in the month 

 of March. 



Male, 14 inches long, 39 caes. pyl., and 58 vertebras 



Eemale, 13 41 ,,57 



Male, ii 41 



Female. 12 42 58 



Female, 10 47 



Male, 9} 49 57 



Male, 12 51 



Dr. Giinther adds: "It must be remembered that Mr. Smee 

 has introduced into this river numerous trout artificially bred from 

 ova which were received from numerous sources." 



Mr. Reynolds, whose family have lived in the district for nearly 

 a century, informs me that his grandfather placed some lake trout 

 in the stream, and also another variety of yellow trout, but he 

 could not remember whence the latter were procured. Mr. Reynolds 

 notes three varieties in the stream, and he believes that the yellow 

 variety was introduced from the Christchurch stream. 



I have figured a large fish that was killed, with nearly a cartload 

 of others, by something supposed to be gas refuse, which came down 

 in the Croydon sewage. 



The trout of the Wandle have ever held a high reputation for fine 

 flavour; nevertheless I consider that the trout of the Darenth which 

 rises partially from the same chalk downs as the Wandle, and enters 

 the Thames at Dartford are even of better quality. 



At my garden the trout do not live on fish, as they do in the 

 Thames or Colne, where there are millions of young fry and minnows. 

 Curiously enough, we have no minnows at all in our water : but in 

 spring, when the trout are very active, they may be occasionally seen 

 with another fish of their own species in their mouths. 



In our water the trout spawn about the third week in January, and 



