MONSTROSITIES 



One's curiosity is often excited by tlie capture of a deformed fish. 

 Tlie causes of malformation are not well known, and are difficult to 



Fic. 217. — l-W). DcfnrmL-d Trout, cauLjht in I.ncli C'iaslifL-rn, Siuhcrlaml. Iul\- 1904. 



account for. I show photographs ot a tew of those I have seen. 

 I am of opinion that many ot these maltormations are caused by 

 starvation. Lochs that are o\'erstocked and in which the spawning- 

 ground becomes too prolific, and lochs in which the trout are in poor 

 condition and do not grow to more than 3 or 4 oz., contain many 

 deformed trout. 



In Loch Clashtern in Sutherlandshire I have captured three or 

 four monstrosities in one day. Many detormed trout may also be seen 

 coming: from the hatcheries, havinor double heads, deformed heads, de- 



fective fins, and short gills. These detects, ot course, have an injurious 



239 



