FISHING AT HOME AND ABROAD 

 swarms of pigmy trout, whereas the most unpromLising tarn may pro- 

 duce two- and three -pounders. Everything depends on the food supply. 

 In lakes where trout are able and allowed to multiply without check or 

 stint, there is seldom enough natural food to enable the multitude to 

 obtain more than enough to sustain life. They live and die as pigmies, re- 

 taining to the last those lateral stripes known as parr-marks, which are 

 the distinctive badge of adolescence among salmon and trout. There is 

 no more certain sequence of effect upon cause than the increase of average 

 weight resulting from reduction of numbers in an overstocked lake. 

 This is very clearly shown in the returns from Loch Leven, the most pro- 

 ductive sheet of water in Great Britain.* Those for the last three seasons 

 compare as follows, and a similar proportion of numbers and average 

 weight prevails throughout the whole period of which record has been 

 preserved: 



1910. Tront. 



April 434 



May 4,246 



June 11,019 



July 10,974 



August 12,685 



September 1,706 



Totals 41,064 



Average weight, 11 7 ounces. 



1911. Trout. 



April 536 



May 946 



June 4,220 



July 7.520 



August . 7,577 



September 1,744 



Totals 22,543 



Average weight, 12i ounces. 



*It probably hai rivals among the Irish loughs, but none of these has had the same care and protection bestowed 

 upon it. Poaching is very rife in most parts of Ireland, and statistics of the annual takes are not forthcoming. 



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