184 ANGLING. 



great quantities in the Solway and its tributaries, 

 and in most of the rivers which debouche along 

 the western and northern coasts of Scotland. In 

 the first named locality they bear the names of 

 sea- trout, herling, and whitling, in the latter of 

 white-trout, sea-trout, and finnock; and when 

 transported to the larger market towns receive the 

 additional name of salmon-trout. Thus we may 

 easily conceive the great and almost irremediable 

 confusion which may take place, and has actually 

 now arisen, from the use or abuse of these pro- 

 vincial names. The Fordwich trout of Izaak 

 Walton, described as yielding " rare good meat," 

 pertains to our present species. 



On the south-east coast of Scotland and its 

 rivers, these marine species (whether one or more) 

 appear to be less abundant than along our western 

 shores. This may, however, possibly arise from 

 the larger meshes of the netting there employed. 

 The Edinburgh market is chiefly supplied from the 

 estuaries of the Forth and Tay. 



In its largest state, or as known under the 

 specific appellation of trutta, the sea or salmon- 

 trout enters the rivers towards the end of May, 

 with a weight varying from one to five or six 

 pounds. The form and dimensions are extremely 

 elegant, possessing all the symmetrical grace of 

 the salmon. The head is small; the back ex- 

 tremely broad when viewed from above ; the tail 

 slightly forked, and wide at the extreme points ; 

 the general colour is above greenish, inclining to 

 bluish-gray, the lower parts being of the clearest 



