XIV. 



WATER POACHERS. 



IN November, both salmon and trout are making 

 up-stream in considerable numbers, seeking out 

 the " redds," which will constitute their spawning- 

 grounds. Although the enemies of salmon, trout, 

 and char are numerous and ever-present, the fish 

 suffer most when they are lying on the spawning- 

 beds in a semi-torpid condition. On the upper 

 reaches of trout-streams hundreds of fish are now 

 spawning, lying side by side on the clean gravel 

 in such numbers as to constitute shoals. This 

 crowding on the ' : redds " proves injurious to 

 the fish, as the fungoid growth, which is so 

 terrible a disease, is transferred from one to 

 another ; if, indeed, this crowding is not the 

 original cause of disease. In the case of salmon 

 and trout, estimates vary as to the number of 

 fish that reach maturity ; this being variously 

 estimated at one from every 1,000 to 6,000 eggs 

 deposited. 



