310 THE ANGLER-NATURALIST. 



Home has the following note: — "Of this excellent species 

 I can only repeat that in the Tweed they have almost en- 

 tirely disappeared. They afford good sport to the angler ; 

 but I never saw one above 7 lbs. weight. Of the Phinock 

 of the Spey, the Hirling of the Nith and Annan *, the 

 Whitling or Whiting of the Esk, all one and the same fishj 

 I can say nothing. There is a little fish, however, which 

 makes its appearance about November and December, but 

 in very small numbers, few only being caught, and those of 

 course with the hook. They are called here Silver- whites, 

 and also Black-tails, from a dusky-blue spot in the centre 

 of the tail-fin. They are a beautiful little fish, resembling 

 much small Sea-Trout; and if not young Sea- Trout, I 

 know not what they are. When caught, the scales, which 

 are of a beautiful silvery whiteness, separate so easily from 

 the fish that on taking it up they stick to the hand, leaving 

 almost the impression behind. The flesh is pink-coloured, 

 and the flavour very good." 



The Don, the Spey, the Tay, the Annan, and the Nith, 

 all produce the Sea- Trout in great abundance, as also some 

 of the rivers of Devonshire, where it is called a Truff. It 

 is found in the Severn, and in the Cumberland and Corn- 

 wall streams. On the banks of the rivers falling into the 

 Solway Frith, it is termed in its grilse stage a Hirling ; and 



* Yarrell observes with respect to this iisli : — " The specimens of 

 the Phinock or Hirling (the Sainio albus of Dr. Fleming) which I 

 have received so exactly resemble the ) oimg of the Salmon-Trout on 

 its first retm-n from salt water, that I am unable to point out any suffi- 

 ciently distinguishing character.'' 



