168 THE TROUT. 



but November is the chief month of spawning. 

 About the end of September they quit the deep 

 water, to which they had retired during the hot 

 weather, and make great efforts to gain the course 

 of the currents, seeking out a proper place for 

 spawning. This is always on a gravelly bottom, 

 or where gravel and sand are mixed among stones, 

 towards the end and sides of streams. At this 

 period they turn black about the head and body, 

 and become soft and unwholesome. They are never 

 good when they are big with roe, which is contrary 

 to the nature of most other fish. After spawning 

 they become feeble, their bodies are wasted, and 

 these beautiful spots, which before adorned them, 

 are imperceptible. Their heads appear swelled, 

 and their eves are dull. In this state they seek 

 still waters, and continue there sick, as it is sup- 

 posed, all the winter. There are in all Trout ri- 

 vers some barren female fish, which continue good 

 through the winter. 



In March, or sometimes earlier, if the weather 

 be mild, the Trouts begin to leave their winter 

 quarters, and approach the shallows and tails of 

 streams, where they cleanse and restore themselves. 

 As they require strength they advance still higher 

 up the rivers, till they fix on their summer resi- 

 dence, for which they generally chuse an eddy be- 

 hind a stone, a log, or bank, that projects into the 

 water, and against winch the current drives. They 

 also frequently get into the holes under roots of 

 trees, or into deeps that are shaded by boughs and 

 bushes. 



