ON LAKES, POOLS, ETC. 141 



when the fact can very easily be .ascertained. Fish 

 of about a pound weight or under should be chosen ; 

 but, under these circumstances, they should be taken 

 out by any possible means once every three or four 

 years, and replaced by others, or instead of contenting 

 themselves with the smaller fish they will destroy 

 the larger trout. As I have said before, the experi- 

 ment is very hazardous, and should not be entered 

 upon without due consideration. But it is a well- 

 known fact, that all the lakes in the south of 

 Scotland, which produce the finest trout, have pike in 

 them ; whether in the course of years, if the pike are 

 not kept down, they will continue to have trout in 

 them, is another matter. Long heavy nets, set as 

 trammels, will be found useful in such lakes, for 

 destroying pike. 



Common trout in lakes often increase to a large 

 size ; but there is a trout peculiar to lakes, called the 

 great lake-trout, or salmo ferox. When full grown, 

 the ferox is a handsome fish in appearance, but his 

 flesh is coarse, and, as an adjunct to the table, he is 

 not ia very great esteem. As a matter of sport, he 

 is one of the strongest and gamest fish that swims 

 when you have hooked him;^ and the killing of a 



1 As tlie excellent and cautious Mrs. Glasse would no doubt have 

 remarked if the subject of Feroxes had been brought under her 

 notice, " First hook your ferox." 



