14 CATCHING THE WILY SEA- TROUT 



of exceeding five spawnings, whereas the sea-trout, by 

 the markings on its scales, has been known to spawn on 

 nine occasions. From the striking dissimilarity in the 

 number of spawnings the fact is deduced that the sea- 

 trout can stand the effects of spawning much better than 

 can the salmon. 



The sea-trout, like the salmon, spawns in late autumn 

 or in early winter. 



When the salmon has spawned it is a very poor looking 

 object. Gone is the silvery hue, and, instead, the colour 

 of the cock fish changes to a dark red. Even the head of 

 this male fish alters in shape. Many of these kelts die 

 from disease, while others are easy prey to poachers and 

 otters. 



The sea-trout also suffers from the spawning effort, 

 but in a lesser degree than the salmon. When the sea- 

 trout is fresh-run it is a beautiful creature in its silvery 

 garb, and, when cooked, its flesh is pink in colour. With 

 its sojourn in fresh- water, it gradually loses its lustre 

 and becomes darker and darker. Then, when cooked, 

 the flesh will be found to have lost its appetizing pinkness. 



When the young sea-trout return to the rivers they do 

 so in large shoals, and the average weight of each of 

 these fish is generally between one and two pounds. 

 The larger fish, usually ranging from three pounds to 

 six pounds in weight, with sometimes a specimen of ten 

 pounds, seek the fresh-water much about the same time 

 as their smaller brethren, but they do not associate with 

 the youngsters. 



An angler, fishing a good pool and providing that the 

 fish are in a taking mood, should, without undue op- 

 timism, expect to bag ten or a dozen of the smaller fish. 



Most small fish are gregarious, and I regard school sea- 

 trout much in the same manner as I do small pollack and 

 shoal bass. When the small pollack are inshore, you 



