6 THE FRESH-WATER TROUT. 



gold or orange tint pervades the exterior of the fish, 

 which, towards the belly, fades away into pearly white- 

 ness. In its edible qualities, the Teviot trOut is cer- 

 tainly somewhat inferior to that of Eden. When 

 beyond half-a-pound in weight, it cuts red and possesses 

 considerable richness of taste. What are caught in 

 the lower parts of the river, from Oxnam downwards, are 

 much superior, both in size and flavour, to those taken 

 higher up; and I have noticed that in certain pools, 

 they are firmer and better shaped than in others. 



As regards the proper Tweed trout, it is quite easily 

 distinguished from those of Teviot and Eden. The 

 general shape of this variety is by no means faulty. 

 Its head, except in the case of overgrown individuals 

 or such as are found in the rocky parts of the river, 

 is moderate-sized. Its paunch alone has the appear- 

 ance of being out of proportion to the rest of the body. 

 This receptacle is capable of holding a large quantity 

 of food, and is usually met with much distended, or in 

 a loose flabby state. 



In Tweed, the cross breeds are very numerous, and 

 they all, in some degree, grow to partake of the pecu- 

 liarity I mention. The true stock, however, is easily 

 distinguished. It inhabits the river from its very 

 sources, as far down, I may say, as Norham. The 

 cross breeds, on the other hand, are severally, accord- 

 ing to their varieties, found in the neighbourhood of 

 such tributaries as contribute to their production ; for 

 instance, in the Tweed below where Teviot discharges 

 itself, trout are frequently met with which unite the 

 characteristics belonging to the fish of both rivers. 



The trout of Tweed, I allude to the pure bond fide 

 breed, is plentifully decorated with stars or spots. Of 

 these, the most attractive are of a vivid crimson hue. 



