Natiiral History of the Sea Trout. 103 



I conclude he has never visited the west coast of 

 Scotland. I should think that the number which 

 run up the rivers of the west coast and the outer 

 Hebrides far exceed those on the east, but perhaps 

 may not run so large. 



The sea trout, for the most part, run up rivers 

 which come from lochs, in which they delight, 

 remaining there till spawning time, and then 

 frequenting all the small streams and rivulets to 

 deposit their ova. After being in the fresh water 

 for some time they change their colour, become red 

 spotted, and are very similar to, and often mistaken 

 for Salmo fario, or the so-called ^. ferox. It is re- 

 markable that the sea trout of our North American 

 colonies never ascend to the upper portions of 

 the great rivers of that country. As to the 

 question whether sea trout can live and propagate 

 their species without returning to the sea, the 

 statement made by Maculloch, and the fact 

 related in the following letter, will appear to 

 answer it in the affirmative. 



"We had some grand fishing about six miles 

 from San Francisco. In the fresh water lakes we 

 found salmon (?) running from three-quarters of a 

 pound to three and four pounds, just as if they had 

 come up fresh from the sea, except that they have 

 no sea lice upon them, but they are firm, silvery, 

 and very pink in flesh. These two lakes are divided 



