24 THE FRESH- WATER TROUT. 



hood ; in Perthshire, the May-water ; in Selkirkshire, 

 the numerous burns that fall into Ettrick, and so on. 



In connection with the size attainable by the fario 

 or common fresh-water trout, it is requisite to say 

 something regarding the growth of the fish a matter 

 already in a cursory manner alluded to, while treating of 

 the effect which change of circumstances produces upon 

 this or that variety of the species. Before doing so, 

 however, I am naturally led to venture one or two 

 remarks relative to the breeding of trout. As regards 

 the spawning time, it differs, although not very mate- 

 rially, in various rivers and localities. The Tweed and 

 Teviot trout begin to deposit their ova in September, 

 and continue to do so throughout October. By the 

 end of this month, the generality of the females have 

 concluded their spawning operations, and become what 

 is termed kelted. But it is different with the male 

 trout, whose milt is not properly matured, until the 

 greater proportion of the she-fish have actually left off 

 spawning. I opine, therefore, that the use or intention of 

 the milt is not, as is generally supposed, to form an 

 amalgamatory process with the exuded ova, but to 

 impregnate the ovaria of the female fish, an opinion 

 which I have attempted at some length, to establish 

 in another chapter, while treating of the breeding of 

 the salmon.* 



* Confirmatory in some measure of my views on this subject, a curious 

 circumstance was lately related to me by George Dundas, Esq., 

 the present Sheriff Depute of Selkirkshire, who was an eye-witness on the 

 occasion. It happened several years ago, while angling along with his 

 brother on the Earn at Strowan Bridge, near Crieff, that the latter got 

 hold of what he at first supposed to be simply a river trout, but on draw- 

 ing it ashore, was surprised to find that he had captured two fish of the 

 species, and these, strange to say, attached to each other by the vent, 

 evidently engaged in an act of sexual intercourse. 



