FISHES 



prior to 1894 (J. R. B. Masefield, Trans. N. 

 Staff. Field Club, 1894). 



Above Tutbury Bridge is a very favourite 

 spawning ground, but owing to the many 

 obstructions on the way the salmon are late 

 in reaching it, and seldom arrive in good con- 

 dition. Here in December 1853 many were 

 shot and speared (Nat. Hist, of Tutbury, 

 p. 64). 



The largest fish of which I can find any 

 record is that mentioned by Sir O. Mosley 

 as being caught at Dove Cliflf which weighed 

 32 Ib. One of 25 Ib. was taken in 1842 at 

 Donington Cliff (J. J. Briggs, Zoologist, 1843, 



P- 



25. Brown Trout. Salmo trutta, Linn., var. 

 fario, Linn. 



Derbyshire has long been famous for its 

 trout, which however vary much in appear- 

 ance according to the locality from which 

 they are taken. As a general rule fish from 

 clear, stony or gravelly streams are brightly 

 marked, whereas those from muddy waters 

 are dingy - looking and sometimes almost 

 black. 



In the Trent the trout are as a rule few 

 and small. In the lower reaches of the Dove 

 they are of good size with pinkish flesh, but 

 not numerous, while on the upper reaches 

 they are very common, and range higher than 

 grayling, being found even in the tiny brook- 

 lets which flow from the moorlands. In the 

 Derwent and its tributaries their distribution 

 is somewhat similar, except that the polluted 

 state of the river has driven them from be- 

 low Little Eaton. 



In size trout vary considerably. A large 

 trout is exceedingly destructive to the smaller 

 fish in his immediate neighbourhood. He is 

 however as a rule very sedentary in his habits, 

 and appears unwilling to leave his haunt, even 

 when the food supply begins to fail. In con- 

 sequence of this characteristic many of the 

 largest trout are found to be in poor condi- 

 tion when taken. The largest fish of which 

 I can find any record is one which is referred 

 to by Glover as having been caught in the 

 Via Gellia. This fish is said to have weighed 

 14 Ib. The same writer also gives particulars 

 of a trout which exceeded 7^ Ib. by i^ oz., 

 and measured 25^ inches in length and 14 

 inches in girth. It was caught in September 

 1828 in the Lathkill. A 7^ Ib. trout was 

 taken near Woodeaves on the Bentley brook 

 about 1876. At the Royal Oak, Hanging 

 Bridge, is preserved a fine trout which was 

 taken in the adjoining river Dove in June 

 1889. This fish scaled over 7$ Ib. 



On May II, 1901, a trout weighing 

 6 Ib. 14 oz., length 24 inches, girth 14 

 inches, was caught in the Derwent at Mat- 

 lock Bath by Mr. W. King ; and a six- 

 pounder was taken in the Noe between Hope 

 and Brough in July 1899. 



[Of late years Loch Leven trout (S. trutta, 

 var. levenensis) have been introduced into the 

 Trent, Dove and Derwent. In the Trent 

 they have been taken up to 4^ Ib., but are 

 under protection as yet, and are returned 

 to the water.] 



[The American rainbow trout (S. irideus, 

 var. shasta) has been introduced in various 

 places. Some were turned into the Trent near 

 Shardlow, others into the upper Dove ; and 

 about 1899 some were put into the Derwent 

 above Hathersage, and appear to be doing 

 well.] 



26. Grayling. Thymallus vexillifer, Linn. 

 Yarrell Thymallus vulgaris. 



Another characteristic inhabitant of our 

 Derbyshire streams, which have been famous 

 for grayling since the days of Walton and 

 Cotton. At the present time they are found 

 in considerable numbers in the Dove, Wye 

 and Derwent. Unlike the trout, they are 

 not to be found in the head waters of these 

 streams, nor are they as a rule to be found in 

 the Trent except near its junction with the 

 Dove. On the Dovedale, Okeover and Birds- 

 grove waters trout and grayling are about 

 equal in numbers ; below this the trout de- 

 crease in numbers, and there is a correspond- 

 ing increase in the number of grayling, until 

 the latter outnumber the former by about ten 

 to one. In the Derwent grayling are scarce 

 above Bamford weir, and, as far as I am 

 aware, are never found above Ashopton. 



Grayling do not vary in size nearly so 

 much as trout. According to Glover (Hist, 

 of the County of Derby, i. 169) they have been 

 taken up to 4 Ib. weight. One taken with 

 the fly near the junction of the Dove and 

 Manifold in 1878 weighed 3^ Ib., and 3 Ib. 

 fish have several times been taken in the 

 Dove. Mr. E. Brown confirms this (Fauna 

 of Burton, p. 117), 'It is sometimes taken 

 weighing 3 Ib.' Such fish are however ex- 

 ceptional, very few exceeding 2 Ib. in 

 weight. 



APODES 



27. Eel. Anguilla vulgaris, Turt. 



Very common in the Trent ; a fair num- 

 ber are to be found in the lower part of the 

 Dove, and a few on the upper part of the 

 river. On the Derwent they are found as 



