THE TROUT. 121 



however, without such a struggle as to bring 

 all the skill of the angler into full play. 



In 1832, a trout, thirty-one inches in length, 

 twenty-one inches in girth, and seventeen 

 pounds' weight, was taken near Great Driffield, 

 (Yorkshire,) and one in the same year, January 

 llth, in a small branch of the Avon, at Salis- 

 bury, weighing twenty -five pounds. The 

 trout feeds on flies, and the larvaa of insects, on 

 small fishes, etc., and is extremely wary, active, 

 and vigorous, leaping out of the water at its 

 insect prey, and pursuing its finny victims with 

 wonderful velocity. It bites eagerly at the 

 May-fly, which proves a most destructive bait ; 

 and various artificial flies, suited to different 

 streams or rivers, are also used by the angler ; 

 the larger trout are generally taken by spinning 

 or trolling with a small bleak or gudgeon. The 

 trout is in perfection in May, June, and July, 

 (October being the breeding season,) and its 

 colours are very beautiful during those months, 

 the numerous reddish brown spots and bright 

 red spots, on its back and the upper part of the 

 sides, being clear and distinct ; the lower parts 

 of the sides being golden yellow, and the under 

 parts silvery white. There is, however, great 

 variety in the colour of the trouts of different 

 rivers, some being darker, some lighter in their 



