THE HABITS AND HAUNTS OF FISH. 23 



j.fc is unequal to the task of holding them when hooded. 

 In large rivers the existence of hybrids in certain of the 

 first sub-genus group of SalmonidcB is by no means in- 

 frequent, the non-migratory fish interbreeding with the 

 migratory, producing tidal or slod trout, and other varie- 

 ties, which occasionally attain considerable dimensions. 

 The common trout, in certain waters, sometimes attains 

 a large size, notably in the Irish lochs, those of Loch 

 Neagh frequently scaling eighteen to twenty pounds. 

 Thames fish are occasionally taken weighing in the teens 

 of pounds, but such captures are few, and we regret to 

 have to add, are becoming yearly more infrequent, not- 

 withstanding the instalments from High Wycombe and 

 other sources. Kingston, Shepperton, and Chertsey 

 were years ago the best localities for these fish, and, 

 therefore, the chief resorts of the anglers. More re- 

 cently, Sunbury, Weybridge, Maidenhead, and Marlow 

 Weir have become the favorite places. 



THE GILLAROO* TROUT of Ireland is another large 

 variety. In their native lakes they attain frequently four 

 or five pounds weight, but when introduced into other 

 waters they often much exceed that weight. This variety 

 affords much excellent sport when hooked, even when 

 small. It is scarcely advisable, however, to introduce this 

 large variety into ordinary trout streams, as the effects in 

 all probability would be similar to those following the 

 introduction of bass in the American trout rivers, the 

 original stock gradually disappearing, f Large fish in- 



* So-called from the structural arrangements of the stomach, which is 

 usually as large as a chicken's, in formation resembling the gizzard of 

 the bird known as th3 gillaroo. 



t In view of the present desire of many English rodsters, including the 

 editor of the "Fishing Gazette," to introduce the black bass into the 

 streams of England, it would be well for them to take heed of the fact 

 stated in the text. This fish will destroy the " coarse fish," particularly 

 the Cyprinidce of any stream or lake. It kills from the love of killing 

 and, pound for pound, is the sturdiest fighter that sculls the waters. 



