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or some disturbing cause taken place in the state of 

 the water. Occasionally they get washed down by 

 floods, or by the breaking away or uplifting of 

 hatches or gates ; but, as soon as the rush of water 

 subsides, they begin to work their way up again, and 

 if there is an obstacle to their ascending, such as a 

 weir or mill, they are sure to be found close up to it, 

 having got as far as they can. They always seem 

 prompted by instinct to work upwards into shallow 

 rapid water, where the bottom is gravelly, and, I 

 believe, for the following reasons : They can there 

 deposit and cover up their ova, and, when hatched, 

 the young fry can get protection among it from their 

 numerous enemies in their early days ; and, although 

 food may be plentiful in muddy sluggish streams 

 near salt water, it is not of the kind that trout 

 delight in. Larva, flies, and minnows abound in 

 clear bright streams, and there the trout can clean 

 themselves from their parasites, and, with healthy 

 bodies and abundance of the food they enjoy, come 

 into condition early, and become lusty and strong. 



In the breeding time they, like many other 

 animals, lose their usual caution and shyness, and 

 when performing their natural functions seem to 

 take no notice of what is passing around them ; and 

 thus very many of the best fish are captured in 

 shallow water, and the streams almost depopulated. 

 The greatest vigilance should be exercised in the 

 spawning time to prevent poachers, both human 

 and others, from preying upon them. In addition to 

 men, swans, ducks, otters, herons, pike, perch, &c., 

 &c., all prey on the luckless trout and its ova and 

 fry, and the wonder is that the stock is so well 



