26 THE SEA-TROUT 



succeeded in producing a new species — or at least a variety of the trout 

 of the loch referred to. This new species or variety attains a recorded 

 size of at least 6 lbs., or three times the size which the trout, from which 

 it is a specific environment-born off-shoot, is known to attain." It is 

 interesting and suggestive to consider all this alleged wealth of variety 

 of fish life in these small, out-of-the-way corners of the Hebrides in 

 the light of the theory promulgated by Mr. Regan. 



This subject is worth pursuing a little further. That praiseworthy 

 publication, " The Sportsman's and Tourist's Guide," describes the 

 Dhu Loch, near Inveraray, as " an excellent loch for sea-trout and 

 yellow trout." Moreover, it says, " The Dhu Loch is a tidal water, 

 within a few hundred yards of the sea, and an unusual species of plump 

 tidal trout are occasionally to be found in it," thus recognising sea-trout, 

 yellow trout and tidal trout. It is common knowledge, again, that trout, 

 as well as sea-trout, are frequently caught in the salt-water basin of 

 Loch Etive; and, indeed, I imagine that there are few districts in 

 Scotland, when opportunities of observation are possible, where common 

 brown trout will not be found in estuarial waters. 



Now I have never seen it anywhere recorded that these alleged 

 species, or varieties, of trout which have in so many places been 

 detected by angler-naturalists and angling writers in salt and brackish 

 water, have been seen on the spawning redds or that the progeny of 

 them, distinguished by features characteristic of the parents, have been 

 observed in the spawning streams. I for one am inclined to believe 

 that such progeny will never be discovered. The facts to my mind 

 rather point to this, that one and all of these alleged tidal trout are 

 individual specimens of the ordinary fresh-water trout of the district, 

 which, descending the river until they have come within tidal influence, 

 have gradually become acclimatised to a salt-water environment. 

 Moreover, I believe that the greatest number of these trout will be 

 found in those localities such as the Orkneys and Shetland, and some 



