io BRITISH SPORTING FISHES. 



distributed throughout the country. In Ireland 

 it is the white-trout, in Cornwall and Devon the 

 peal. Although not now so abundant as formerly,, 

 it is still taken in quantities in the salmon rivers 

 of both our east and west coasts. Like its con- 

 geners, the salmon-trout enters rivers to spawn, 

 leaving them again after depositing its eggs. As 

 rivers are " early " and " late," the fish ascend from 

 the sea through summer and autumn, spawning 

 from October to December. The kelts descend 

 during the spring months at the same time as the 

 smelts, after which the latter rapidly increase in size. 

 The sea-trout is one of the favourite fishes 

 of the angler. It is usually game for some 

 weeks after trout are " out," and considerable 

 interest attaches to its coming. The fisherman 

 watches for signs of the sea-fish in autumn 

 as eagerly as he hoped for the advent of 

 the swallow in spring. The presence of the 

 former betokens long night-fishings and abundant 

 sport. He is not so wary as the trout, and a 

 far more assiduous feeder. In September, 

 anglers who love autumn fishing move down to 

 the deeps to meet the coming army. The fish 

 enter the river in shoals, and every freshet 

 enables them to gain a higher reach. As soon 

 as they have had time to disperse, the angler 

 takes the self-same stand from which only the 



