tAKE TROUT. 
223 
which it outdoes all its tribe. Its ferocity is equal to its weapons, 
and when seized hy it no ordinary inhabitant of the water can 
hope to escape; so that next to the Pike it is the most for- 
midable of the inhabitants of at least our British lakes and 
rivers. With such eagerness of hunger, the supposition may 
well be that this fish will fall a ready prize to the fisherman; 
and as its food is the fishes of its native waters, and a Trout 
of no small size is a ready bait, such might be the case, but 
that, like others of this family Avhen of full growth, the Lake 
Trout is shy or cautious; so that although it may perhaps rise 
to a fly, as more commonly it seeks its prey only by night, it 
is more usually taken with lines, which are laid for it at that 
season. ^Vhen the hook has been swallowed it becomes ex- 
ceedingly furious, and no small strength is required in the line 
to secure it. For the table it is not highly esteemed. 
It produces its spawn at about the same time with others of 
this family; and for this purpose they leave the deeper water 
of the lakes in which they usually reside; but they do not 
proceed upward in the rivers which feed these lakes to any 
considerable distance, and presently after performing this im- 
portant function they return. We may suppose that the influence 
of light, which is obtained best in the shallower water, is of 
advantage in the development of the young of this species, as 
well as others of this family. 
I learn from the noble Earl already mentioned, that he has 
taken this flsh in Lough Eck of the weight of twenty-eight and 
thirty pounds, and Mr. Thompson mentions it as exceeding even 
this; but the example described, which was obtained at the 
beginning of December, weighed only fifteen pounds ; the length 
turn feet four inches and a half; the body stout and thick, 
carrying its breadth and thickness backward to the adipose fin. 
Head large, flat on the top, snout projecting before the eyes, 
ending blunt. Jaws equal, gape large, mystache passing con- 
siderably behind the eye. Teeth strong, sharp, the points 
directed inward, distant from each other; those on the mystache 
continued through the whole length, with an interruption in 
front of the upper jaw; strong recurved teeth round the palate; 
a single row along the vomer, and a strong row across in front 
of the vomerine row, hut distinct from it, and also appearing 
distinct from the side row of the palate Strong incurved teeth 
