THE SALMON TROUT. 151 



size of ordinary clover seed. I was pleased to have proof of its food ; in 

 its stomach a little of JJtva Lima, Linn,, was found ; one plant from root 

 to top being perfect. 



March I6th, 1850. — A very fine one, 5 lbs. weight, taken with a number 

 of S. Trutta at Donaghadee, was brought me. I saw a small one a few 

 days ago which had been caught there. 



On 2nd August, 1851, I obtained an example of this fish at Newcastle, 

 County Down, weight 3^ lbs. — some, if not all, of the trout called " Dolo- 

 chan," at Dundrum, are (from the descriptions given) apparently of this 

 species. They are taken up to 12 lbs. weight, and are said to ascend the 

 river as regularly as the salmon. 



The Salmon Trout,* Salmo Trutta, Linn., Salmo albiis, Flem., 



Is common around the coast. I have examined specimens from all sides 

 of the island. Belfast market is supplied from spring to autumn with 

 this species, taken in the sea, whence all that I have seen taken, no mat- 

 ter at what season, were in good condition. It ascends the tributaries, 

 great and small, of Belfast Bay. 



On examination of a specimen of S. Trutta, taken in the Lagan Canal, 

 on 16th February, 1837, with Scotch specimens of the herling, S. albus, 

 sent to me by Capt. Fayrer, R. N., I found a perfect agreement between 

 them. 



In the stomach of the Lagan fish were a gammarus-like crustacean, 

 a leech, and the remains of larva-cases of the Phryganea (caddis-worms). 



3farch 2nd, 1837. — There was a basketful of S. Trutta in Belfast 

 market from Donaghadee, where this species is abundant ; their average 

 weight about 1|^ lb. I bought one of this weight, and on opening it 

 neither milt nor roe appeared. In its stomach were the remains of seven 

 or eight sand eels from 2 to 3^ inches long. I examined three which 

 were perfect, and found two of them Ammodytes Lancca, and one (3^ 

 inches long) the Amm. Tohianus : it contained also a full-grown prawn ; 

 in its mouth were some confer'vce. 



July Wth, 1838. — I received a specimen of the Salmo Trutta, 9 inches 

 in length and in high condition, from Macpherson's dam, Old Park, 

 near Belfast, where they are said to be numerous. Its roundness on the 

 back and greyish green colour, as described by Jardine, are very well 

 marked. The person who brought it to me caught similar fish in the 

 Lagan last March, Comparing it with the Scotch specimens of the her- 

 ling, I see no difference. 



March '31st, 1846. — I saw several which were taken in Belfast Bay, 

 about two miles and a half from town, weighing from two to three pounds 

 each. A few are commonly taken in the mullet nets. Mr. Meenan says 

 he sometimes gets in one day three or four CAvt. One hundred and a half 

 is sometimes taken by one boat in a day, — all taken early in the morn- 

 ing, before day-break, by draAving the sandy bays. The salmon trout is 

 chiefly procured at Donaghadee and Ballywalter, but is met with all 

 round the North-East coast. Taken from March till November ; the largest 

 weighing fifteen pounds, often ten and twelve pounds ; average size two 

 and a half pounds. Great numbers are taken at the Cranagh cuts, Cole- 

 raine ; but they do not at any season average more than one pound 

 weight, (One of fourteen pounds weight is said to have been taken in 



* Commonly called " White Trout," or " Sea Trout." 



