TROUT. 17 
the main waters. This will be in from ten to 
sixteen months. 
When they have dropped down to the great 
river, they are chary of venturing far out into 
the world of waters, but for a time haunt the 
gravel-beds, preferring those with little bays and 
eddies. The pebbly reaches afford them the 
greatest protection ; and the more thickly grown 
are the banks with brambles and cresses the 
better. The first bring food; the second afford 
protection, Fry are usually found in about four 
inches of water, and the tendency is for the fish 
to get into deeper conditions as they increase in 
age and size. They always exhibit sufficient 
instinct, however, to remain near those spots 
which would enable them to get into quiet eddies, 
so as not to be swept away by the rushing waters. 
When the fish descend the streams they have 
attained to three or four inches in length, and are 
known as “yearlings.” This is a generally de- 
scriptive term, though not always accurate. The 
troutlets have now attained to a stage when they 
can begin the battle of life, and although they 
have fewer they have larger enemies. Herons 
destroy quantities of yearlings, pike consume 
great numbers, and we have seen a pair of king- 
fishers feeding their newly-fledged young upon 
them. Otters do but little harm to trout at this 
c 
