CHAPTER VIII 



MISCELLANEOUS OBSERVATIONS 



WITH the approach of autumn brown trout 

 become restless, and the adult fish gradu- 

 ally make their way up tributaries or to the head 

 waters of the river. Here, where the shallow 

 stream ripples over the gravel beds, they deposit 

 their ova. As soon as the spawning is com- 

 pleted the exhausted female drops down into the 

 deeper water from which she came. The male, 

 not infrequently, delays his return for a time, 

 but ultimately reaches his usual haunts. 



When they move up to spawn, a male trout 

 may accompany the female fish on the journey 

 until they reach suitable ground. On the other 

 hand, he may not select his mate until the actual 

 spawning grounds are reached. Here he is most 

 attentive to her, jealously guards her against 

 the attentions of other fish, and finally induces 

 her to spawn. 



tUnless the male is an exceptionally large fish 



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