THE TROUT. 73 



rectly from the salt water, and was, without a particle 

 of doubt, an overgrown sea trout, erroneously termed 

 bull-trout. As classed with this rendered doubtful 

 species, we may mention, that, at Newton Bridge on 

 the Clyde, an individual was taken with the minnow, 

 some years ago, weighing fifteen and a half pounds. 

 There was also exhibited in Edinburgh, the other sum- 

 mer, a trout between seven and eight pounds weight, 

 captured with the fly at Coltbridge, on the somewhat 

 diminutive and well-known Water of Leith. The 

 neighbour of this fish is still in the pool, and gene- 

 rally lies within twenty yards of the arch. He makes 

 himself welcome to any angler who is able to catch him. 

 We ourselves have often attempted in vain, although 

 we have noted more than once his monstrous snout 

 belling up not a foot's distance from our seemingly ir- 

 resistible flies. A fish equally large and cautious, we 

 knew some years ago under Tyne Bridge at East Lin- 

 ton. It has possibly been killed ere this, by means of 

 a net or leister, as the water where it generally lay was 

 not remarkably deep. 



We are aware, that, although it is stated by us that 

 the bull-trout has no necessary connection with salt 

 water, there are many, both of Tay and Tweed anglers, 

 who think otherwise ; yet, judging from their specimens 

 of this fish, we are led to conclude that they confound 

 it with the salmo eriox and the hucho of Lower Ger- 

 many ; to the latter of which fish it is very unlike, 

 both in its habits and appearance 



It seems to us a matter of strange fatuity, why na- 

 turalists will insist upon the stupid misnomers of ig- 

 norant fishermen, and persist in confounding what is 

 really and truly a fresh-water fish, with one that belongs 

 to the salmon species. We assure them that the real 

 bull-trout the bull-trout of Tarras has no connection 



