ii4 BRITISH SPORTING FISHES. 



the stream-margin with brambles and cresses, 

 the better. The first bring food, the second 

 afford protection. About four inches of running 

 water is probably the ideal depth for fry. They 

 may be " sown " in the stream as local conditions 

 suggest. The sowing ought always to be done 

 proceeding down-stream; "hides" and "rests" for 

 the fish should be inserted. These are com- 

 posed of two bits of brick placed about four 

 inches apart, and covered in with a piece of 

 slate. Into these the fry dart, and are safe 

 from their larger enemies, of which they have 

 many. One great advantage of turning fry 

 into brooks is that in time of "freshets" and 

 floods they are enabled to get into the quiet 

 eddies, and are not swept down by the rushing 

 waters. 



When the fish of which we have been speak- 

 ing descend from the streams, they are from 

 two to four inches in length, and are known as 

 "yearlings." These are turned down in the 

 spring months, and from their age and size, a 

 greater percentage survive than in the case of fry. 

 As the fish increase in size, they have fewer, but 

 larger enemies. Otters, probably, do little harm 

 to trout at this stage of their growth, preferring,. 

 as they pass up the shallow streams in summer, 

 other game. Fry are often kept to grow into. 



