TROUT. 17 



the main waters. This will be in from ten to 

 sixteen months. 



When they have dropped down to the great 

 river, they are chary of venturing far out into 

 the world of waters, but for a time haunt the 

 gravel-beds, preferring those with little bays and 

 eddies. The pebbly reaches afford them the 

 greatest protection ; and the more thickly grown 

 are the banks with brambles and cresses the 

 better The first bring food ; the second afford 

 protection. Fry are usually found in about four 

 inches of water, and the tendency is for the fish 

 to get into deeper conditions as they increase in 

 age and size. They always exhibit sufficient 

 instinct, however, to remain near those spots 

 which would enable them to get into quiet eddies, 

 so as not to be swept away by the rushing waters. 

 When the. -fish descend the streams they have 

 attained to three or four inches in length, and are 

 known as " yearlings." This is a generally de- 

 scriptive term, though not always accurate. The 

 troutlets have now attained to a stage when they 

 can begin the battle of life, and although they 

 have fewer they have larger enemies. Herons 

 destroy quantities of yearlings, pike consume 

 great numbers, and we have seen a pair of king- 

 fishers feeding their newly- fledged young upon 

 them. Otters do but little harm to trout at this 



