498 



THE NATURE BOOK 



exposing themselves on shallow stretches. 

 Urged by a vehement desire to reach the 

 higher pools of the rivers. Sea Trout 

 will even venture to cross dangerous 

 " stickles," "scours," or shallow lengths, 



A SALMON TROUT BREAKING THE SURFACE 

 THE WATER. 



under the cover of darkness. But the 

 less adventurous tra\ellers lurk in the 

 deep pools and in the heavier water 

 imtil rain has swelled the river. 



Tlie instinct of hiding is exceedingly 

 strong in the Sea Trout. A three or four 

 pound fish will conceal itself with remark- 

 able cunning in a small pool of a mountain 

 ])urn. An o\'erhanging ledge of rock, a 

 big submerged stone, a hollow in the bank, 

 or the roots of a tree growing from the 



water, afford "holts" for the Sea Trout. 

 In low water the fish remain in these 

 harbours during the day, only venturing 

 out after sunset to seek for another pool 

 higher up the river 



In a tributary of the Towy, 

 during a long drought of 1908, 

 twenty Sea Trout could be counted 

 in a little pool at sundown. The 

 water was so abnormally low and 

 clear that the fish could be 

 watched ghding out of their holts 

 in the banks, and gathering below 

 the waterfall that obstructed their 

 upward journey. One day a 

 thunder-shower discoloured a short 

 length of the stream, and in about 

 an hour an angler caught nine Sea 

 Trout, with a worm on his hook. 

 Yet before the rain fell not a 

 sewin could be seen in this part 

 of the stream. Discoloured water, 

 either from the bogs or the road- 

 ways, gives to Sea Trout the in- 

 timation of a rise in the water, and 

 at this signal they are urged to 

 continue their travels. Coming 

 out of their lurking-places, they 

 quest up the stream for any channel 

 that will afford a way of progress 

 to fresh haunts. 



The migrations of Sea Trout are 

 fuU of interest. Their courage in 

 attempting to leap up waterfalls is 

 like that of the salmon and the 

 brown trout at the time of spawn- 

 ing. A Sea Trout cannot leap so 

 high as a salmon, but it will en- 

 deavour to emulate the jumping 

 feats of its stronger and bigger 

 neighbours in the pool. i\gain 

 ancl again, these athletic fish hurl 

 themselves up the rush of white 

 foam, to be beaten back by the 

 powerful force of the waters. The 

 Sea Trout seems to possess a highly frolic- 

 some nature. It delights in jumping and 

 sporting in the pools, especially about the 

 hour of sunset and at daybreak. A Sea 

 Trout of a ]n)und in weight can leap 

 from three to four feet from the water. 

 It will shoot u]) into the air, hke an arrow, 

 linn a somersault, and dive back into the 

 water with a si)lash. 



Another characteristic of the Salmon 

 Trout is its sociability ; the gregarious 



OF 



