3 THE FRESH- WATER TROUT. 



ing streams or lochs, unless with the intent, on the part 

 of larger trout, to assail and devour them ; or, it may 

 be, when forced by circumstances to deposit their 

 spawn. 



Should the feeding, however, greatly exceed the 

 average, I still speak in respect to quantity, although it 

 rarely does so without the implication also of a superior 

 quality of subsistence, trout will not only attain to a 

 weight exceeding what I have mentioned to be that 

 common to a full-grown Tweed fish, under ordinary 

 circumstances, but they will arrive at it, in a far shorter 

 period of time, in the course, it may be, of two, or at 

 most three years ; whereas the Tweed trout needs four 

 to acquire its sixteen ounces, and then ceases growing. 

 Thus, in Leet or Eden, a trout of the second year's 

 growth is as heavy as a three or even a four years old 

 fish pastured among the channels of Tweed or Ettrick ; 

 and were the trout of these in significant waters suffered 

 undisturbed to reach their full size, which there is no 

 question they would do in the course of five or six 

 years, numbers would be found among them, as was the 

 case not long ago, weighing severally upwards of two 

 pounds. Thus, also, in respect to many lakes, fish- 

 ponds, and old marl-pits, into which the fry of trout 

 have been put. As long as these possess a superabun- 

 dance of both ground and surface food, the young fish 

 will thrive astonishingly, and arrive, in an incredibly 

 short space of time, at dimensions exceeding those of 

 average sized river trout. 



But without enlarging any further upon this subject, 

 I shall conclude, with a single observation, all that is 

 essential to be said, in regard to the growth of fish, 

 namely, that as sheep and cattle will not fatten and 

 thrive on stinted pastures, or barren, exposed moorland, 



