1 6 BRITISH SPORTING FISHES. 



spate will destroy millions of eggs by tearing them 

 from the gravel, and a whole host of aquatic 

 enemies have to be reckoned with. And this, it 

 must be borne in mind, before the fish are hatched. 

 The swan alone is able to destroy a gallon ot 

 spawn a day, and it is aided by other aquatic 

 birds. 



The process of hatching is long ; but ulti- 

 mately the eggs hatch into avelins. These at 

 first lurk in any quiet retreat, though as soon as 

 the yolk-sac is absorbed, they begin to feed, and 

 are termed fry. Until this period they derive 

 their nutriment from the yolk, and absorb only as 

 much oxygen as will support life. The fry sink 

 into the sheltering gravel, get under little rests, 

 and only venture out as they see the tiniest bits 

 of animal food floating down. If the embryo 

 troutlets had enemies whilst still in the egg, they 

 have more now. Fry afford delicate morsels to 

 predatory water insects, to grebes, ducks, king- 

 fishers, herons, and to every mature fish that 

 haunts the stream. These have all to be reckoned 

 with, and the fry have a hard time of it. By 

 this time they have attained to an inch in length, 

 and are daily better able to look after themselves. 

 As they awake to their active summer life, the 

 troutlets find themselves far up the tributaries ; 

 and here they will remain until they descend to 



