148 THE SEA-TROUT 



class of sea-trout, that which averages about 4 lb., runs in June, and 

 the average weight becomes less as the season advances. Mr. Hutton 

 informs me that the same graduation of the runs occurs in Ireland and 

 in Norway, and I assume it is general. In a broad general view this 

 decrease in the average weight may be attributed, perhaps, not so much 

 to the gradual elimination of the larger fish as to the increasing influx 

 of the smaller whitling class. 



I have not overlooked the run of heavy sea-trout which occurs in 

 our East Coast rivers, a run which once again opens out the " bull trout" 

 controversy. The Tweed netting close time, and indeed the Aln close 

 time also, begins on September 15, and the evidence is fairly conclusive 

 that the major part of the run of these large fish occurs after the net 

 close season has begun, with the result that the nets take a compara- 

 tively small toll of them and their numbers tend to increase to the 

 prejudice of more marketable fish. I cannot explain why there should 

 be this late run of heavy fish, but it seems to me that it is another pointer 

 to the conclusion (suggested, as I have shown, by the scales) that there 

 is a species of sea-trout on the east coast that, whatever it may be 

 classified as, is not identical with the sea-trout of other waters. I have 

 in my introductory chapter suggested what that sea-trout may ultimately 

 be found to be.^ 



We have already seen that the sea-trout which spawn in October, 

 November and December do not delay their ascent from the sea until 

 these months. In districts where the spawning grounds are close to the 

 tidal reaches many may do so, but in most rivers the heaviest run of 

 sea-trout — if not the run of heaviest sea-trout — is a summer run. As 

 we have seen, too, some fish may actually in some districts have 

 ascended with the intention of remaining till the spawning season as 

 early as April or May, but such early runs at best are always inter- 

 mittent. In any case, it requires a considerable freshet in the river to 

 induce the fish at any time to leave salt water. 



1. See also /josf, Chapter X. 



