HYBRIDS 



TiiKRE is not the least doubt that in nature many hybrids are to 

 be found. Sea-trout may often be seen spawning with grilse, and 



I'll'.. 226. — 1-11). Zebra, ciiiss bet\\'L-en American Char and Loch Leveii Trout. 



trout with sea-trout. These being so much alike, it would be almost 

 impossible to tell whether the offspring were crosses or not. Sir 

 James Maitland carried out many e.xperiments at his Howieton 

 Fisheries in crossing brown trOLit with salmon, char with salmon parr, 

 American char with Loch Leven trout. The latter cross he called a 

 "zeljra." See illustration of one bred in Howieton Fisheries (Fig. 

 226). This fish was light scarlet on the belly and had peculiar mark- 

 ings along the side, as shown in the jjhotograph. For a description 

 of these e.xperiments I refer the reader to Day's British and Irish 

 SalmonidiT. If these experiments have done nothing to improve the 



breed of fish, thev have at least pro\'ed that crossing is possiljle. 



..46 



