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NECEM au NE MENTI RO RET SER WA Ta Ka RT TNI Te ee ee RATER TRUE TENERENT NE GE P ee VIE ERE ee eee ee 
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AnTHUR.—On the Brown Trout introduced into Otago. 279 
numerous, and a few red ones as usual. The third fish differed in a marked 
degree from these, though all three were fat and in good condition. Its back 
was olive colour like the others, but its sides were of that rich golden hue, 
so pleasing in an angler's eyes, while the black spots were exceedingly 
numerous, only about an eighth of an inch apart. I have not in New 
Zealand seen another case of such a difference in external colour and 
markings in trout of the same sex taken under such exactly similar 
conditions. In waters I have fished in Seotland, however, I must admit I 
have seen more remarkable differences, and where least to be expected. 
The character of the bed of this stream is generally rocky, but it has many 
more gravel-beds than the Lee, particularly for two miles above and below 
Walsh's Accommodation House, where anglers usually put up. The banks 
of the stream, like those of the Lee, are all in a state of nature—all native 
tussocks and rushes, with a few veronicas in places—the feed also is 
the same. In its course from the Lammerlaws to the Taieri, it will cover a 
distance of 80 or 40 miles, and, being snow-fed in early summer, is rather 
later as an angling stream than the Lee. 
As regards the Upper T'aieri, the fish, so far as I have seen them, are 
similar to those of the two last streams described; but my aequaintance 
is as yet too limited with the trout there, to warrant me saying more about 
them as to appearance. The capabilities of this river for producing large 
well-conditioned trout, consist in the immense ranges of water, or reaches, 
free from any obstructions which characterise it, and a considerable supply 
of bottom feed, abundance of insect life, and rich loamy banks. The 
course of the stream is also marked by abundance of gravel, suited for 
spawning beds. 
In no stream here have I as yet seen*trout of mature size, marked with 
distinet bands of dark colour transversely to the length of their bodies. 
This is à common mark in British streams, but the colour is evanescent, 
and will disappear in a short time if a trout goes under a stone or bank. 
When fishing clear reaches of water at home, I have frequently noticed 
this peculiarity. "These bands are only assumed by the fish when the river 
is clear. I have never seen them when the water was discoloured, nor in 
lake fish. It is well known at the same time that trout can alter their 
colour to suit that of the water for the time being; they are much lighter 
when the water is clear than during floods. 
. Habits of the Trout, as observed by Anglers. 
Duden. the trout here are more bold, when feeding, than at home, 
possibly because as yet our streams are not so much fished.* The time 
* They always feed with their heads up stream, seize their prey by the head, and 
bolt it or suck it into the gullet. 
