THE SALMON FAMILY. 321 



head of the Great Lake Trout described at p. 315. The fish 

 was taken, however, early in the season, so that it was pro- 

 bably not in full condition; and the circumstance of its 

 being a male would account in some measure for the un- 

 usual size of the head — as the gills or respiratory organs in 

 the male are always longer than in the female fish. Prom 

 3 to 10 lbs. is the usual weight of Thames Trout, which tax 

 to the uttermost the skill and patience of the angler, not 

 only in the hooking, but also in the subsequent induction to 

 the landing-net. Indeed, so proverbial are the experience 

 and sagacity of these highly-educated fish, that it is a joke 

 amongst the Thames watermen to say that the Trout know 

 the names of the makers of every bit of tackle used for 

 their ensnarement. They are considered as excellent eat- 

 ing, and realize a large price, the highest rate ever paid 

 for one in the London market being twelve shillings the 

 pound. 



By the 1st Elizabeth, cap. xvii., no Trout may be taken 

 in the Thames measuring less than 8 inches from eye to 

 fork. The legal Thames close-time for this fish is from 

 the 10th of September to the 25th of January; but the 

 Thames Angling Association have wisely extended it to the 

 31st of March — a very proper regulation, which is seldom 

 infringed by respectable anglers. 



Amongst the best localities for Thames Trout may be 

 mentioned Weybridge, Sunbury, Penton Hook, the Old 

 Windsor Water, Marlow Weir, and some deep pools above 

 Oxford. In the Weybridge waters during the past season 



p5 



