PEAL. 
201 
above fifty fathoms, we conclude that this fish swims near the 
surface on such occasions; as it does also in summer near the 
land, ^ when drawing near the accustomed river; in which 
situation it is fished for with a moored and floating net. Not 
unfrequently also it takes a bait far out at sea, when the line 
IS kept in motion, as in whiffing for Pollacks; and it even 
seems to be then eager for prey, which the Sea Trout never 
IS, and the Salmon rarely. 
An example caught at a considerable distance from land in 
the same net with Mackarel, had its stomach filled with very 
small fishes, on which also the latter had been gorging them- 
selves. There is reason to believe, however, that in the Peal, 
as in most of the Salmon tribe, digestion is quickly performed, 
so that the stomach is usually found empty. When this fish 
has reached the coast it soon passes into the river, and in 
some cases they enter in considerable numbers, bearing with 
them the same kind of parasitic animal as the Salmon, but 
which soon quits its hold as in that fish. The rivers where 
they prefer to resort are often such as from their limited depth 
the Salmon may hesitate to enter, but so far as observation 
extends, a strong enticement seems ,to be that the entrance is 
floored with gravel or sand. It also appears that they will 
readily spring above a moderate fall of water, but of course 
with inferior powers to the lordly Salmon; and the inducement 
for thus seeking the flowing ^ stream is probably the same as 
that which influences that fish; which we suppose to be the 
state of obesity or fulness that has been produced by an abundant 
supply of nourishing food. But the larger proportion do not 
continue in fresh water longer than about the middle of August, 
although in a few instances they have remained to September J 
and during this time they may be fished for with a worm or 
fly; but they are more usually sought after with a draw-net. 
It IS among the most remarkable circumstances connected 
wnh the history of this family of fishes, that among some of 
the species the proportion of the sexes varies in a very great 
degree; and we find this noticed so long ago as in the time 
of Willoughby and Kay, by whom it is said that the Branlins, 
or Fingerlins, are all of them males; and Mr. Dillwyn, in his 
work on the Fauna of Swansea, observes that “Mr. Talbot has 
found in his streams at Margain that the Bull Trout are 
