THE TROUT 63 



every stage of his existence, preserves a superior and 

 dignified demeanour unattainable by any otber living 

 occupant of the streams. 



These may be styled the social and intellectual qualities 

 of this glorious fish. His physical constitution is equally 

 entitled to our respectful consideration. He boasts a 

 prepossessing and fascinating figure, moulded in strict 

 conformity with the most refined principles of sym- 

 metrical proportion, sparkles in all the gorgeous colours 

 of the rainbow, and occupies a distinguished position in 

 the important science of gastronomy. 



These seem to be the most prominent reasons why the 

 trout holds so high a rank in the angler's estimation. 

 There must be mind, real or imaginary, in everything 

 which enjoys human attention, in order to fix our serious 

 consideration, and secure our lasting esteem. 



The trout, in disposing of its spawn, follows the 

 identical rules which govern the salmon in this im- 

 portant process. He runs up rivers, and torrents, and 

 brooks in the months of September and October, and 

 seeks out the most retired water, flowing over gravelly 

 bottoms, for this annual operation. Like the salmon, 

 he leaps over formidable obstacles in his progress, 

 although he cannot cope, in point of muscular agility, 

 with the prince of the waters ; still, in proportion to his 

 size, the trout possesses quite as much physical vigour 

 and daring as the lordly salmon. The leaps the trout 

 will take when ascending the rivers in autumn are really 

 quite astonishing. If we examine even the smallest 

 rivulet or burn, which runs into any good trout-stream, 

 we shall find it full of small trout-fry, the produce of 

 the spawn which the parent fish had, under the pressure 

 of apparently insuperable difficulties, contrived to deposit. 

 A trout of a pound weight will often clear a leap of four 

 feet high. 



The period of the year in which trout are in the 

 finest condition varies in different countries, and even 

 in different rivers of the same country. The seasons 

 also exercise a considerable influence. If the winter 

 has been open and mild, the trout will be in fine order 



