31() THE FRESH-WATEK FISHKS <>F Kl'kOPE. 



Salmo trutta (LINN^US). Salmon Trout. 



D. 13. A. 11, P. 15, V. 9. Scales: lat. line 120, transverse to - 



36 34. 



The Salmon Trout, or Sea Trout, is essentially a North-European fish, much 

 more common in Scotland than in England. In Wales and Ireland it is known 

 as White Trout. It is characteristic of Scandinavia, where it is known as 

 Laxoring, or Orlax. In North Germany it is usually termed Meerforelle, but 

 is also called Lachsforelle, or Silberlachs. It omirs in Russia, chiefly in the 

 White Sea and the Baltic regions, and is common in the rivers and fiords of 

 Jutland. 



Its habits are much like those of the Salmon. It commonly lives in the 

 sea, and remains some days in brackish water before ascending rivers. It is 

 voracious, and when fattest the flesh is pale pink ; but as the fish gets out 

 of condition the colour becomes nearly white. The flavour, according to the 

 English taste, is inferior to that of the Salmon, but it is quite as much 

 esteemed as Salmon in Prance. 



It is very hardy, and may be kept alive for some time in boxes by fish- 

 dealers. Buckland mentions that it is so abundant in the Tweed as seriously 

 to interfere with the Salmon ; and he assures us that the fishwives sometimes 

 clip the tail of the Trout square, and then sell it as Salmon. Jardine states 

 that their abundance is annoying when fishing for Salmon. 



They eat small fishes, shrimps, and many kinds of insects. Their stomachs 

 are frequently crammed with the common sandhopper. The body is deeper, 

 and the colour higher, in the Aberdeen rivers and the Tay than in other parts 

 of Scotland. It has been said that if they are prevented from descending 

 to the sea, the head will become large, and the body thin ; but McCulloch 

 asserted that the Sea Trout is now a permanent resident in a fresh-water 

 lake in the island of Lismore, off Argyleshire, where it breeds freely. Hence 

 there have not been wanting those who, like Mr. Day, are disposed to 

 regard the migratory Sea Trout as closely related to the non-migratory River 

 Trout, since the most striking difference between them is in the circumstance 

 that the former after a time sheds its vomerine teeth, while the latter retains 

 them through life. In New Zealand the Sea Trout breeds in a fresh-water 

 pond, and, like the Brook Trout, varies the number of its pyloric appendages ; 

 for, while in Britain these range in number from forty-nine to sixty-one, this 

 form, when reared in a fresh-water pond, has only thirty-six. 



There is no doubt that this species is the White Salmon of Pennant, which 



