XIV. 
WATER POACHERS. 
In November, both salmon and trout are making 
up-stream in considerable numbers, seeking out 
the “redds,” which will constitute their spawning- 
grounds. Although the enemies of salmon, trout, 
and char are numerous and ever-present, the fish 
suffer most when they are lying on the spawning- 
beds in a semi-torpid condition. On the upper 
reaches of trout-streams hundreds of fish are now 
spawning, lying side by side on the clean gravel 
in such numbers as to constitute shoals. This 
crowding on the ‘“redds” proves injurious to 
the fish, as the fungoid growth, which is so 
terrible a disease, is transferred from one to 
another; if, indeed, this crowding is not the 
original cause of disease. In the case of salmon 
and trout, estimates vary as to the number of 
fish that reach maturity; this being variously 
estimated at one from every 1,000 to 6,000 eggs 
deposited. 
