232 
COMMON TROUT. 
of the shifting of the gravel of the river, but there is no record 
of its having ever been caught. 
The following narrative, derived also from Mr. Daniel, will 
not only amuse, but serve to shew that a moderate degree of 
confinement will not limit the growth of the Trout, nor interfere 
with its appetite. Mr. Toomer had built a stew in which he 
fed many Trouts, one of which, that weighed three pounds and 
a half, had been caught in the river at a small distance, and 
its size and strength soon enabled it to become the master of 
all the others that were in the stew before him. In about a 
year this fish, which had received the name of Fuller, and was 
an object of particular attention, had grown to about nine pounds, 
five of which had been added to his weight between March 
and October, at which latter date its length was twenty-seven 
inches. Its appetite was great, as was its activity; and the 
body was beautifully spotted. The food, which w-as not always 
abundantly bestowed, was worms, minnows, or the entrails of a 
calf finely chopped, but unless much pressed by hunger it neg- 
lected them by day. It is at an hour before dark that it begins 
to move about, and then Fuller begins to exercise his tyranny 
over the rest. He chooses to feed alone on the food thrown 
to him, and not at all in haste; but w'hen he looks round, all 
the smaller Trouts dart off into their hiding places, at which 
time he sails round to see that they have all withdrawn, and 
he repeats the circuit at every little interval of his feeding. 
About a hundred and twenty-five minnows formed the complement 
of a meal, and, in devouring these, woe be to any one of the 
smaller tribe that ventured to intrude; except, indeed, a single 
favourite, which he appeared to have selected for a companion. 
It was only when the feast had ended that others were permitted 
to scramble for what was left. The greatest amount of activity 
was when the wind was brisk. Fuller’s fate was at last 
unfortunate in being stolen from the stew. 
It is scarcely necessary to say that the Trout is highly 
esteemed for the table; but there is great difference according 
to the situation in which they are caught. 
Instances have been reported not unfrequently of the very 
large size to which this fish has sometimes grown; but in the 
generality of cases it is probable that this is a mistake, which 
has arisen from confounding it with the Lake Trout; and the 
