sea trout which I saw in Ireland, called a bull trout, was of the same kind as these you see here, but fresh water trout are sometimes carried in floods to the sea, and come back larger and altered in colour and form, and are then mistaken for new species; and as each river possesses a peculiar variety belonging to it, this, with differences depending upon food and size, will, I think, account for the peculiarities of particular fish, without the necessity of supposing them distinct species. I remember many years ago, the first time I ever fished for salmon in spring in the Tweed, I caught with the fly, one fine morning in March, two fish nearly of the same length: one was a male fish of the last season, that had lost its melt; the other a female fresh from the sea. They were so unlike, that they did not appear of the same species: the spent or kipper salmon was long and lean, showing an immense head, spotted all over with black and brown spots, and the belly almost black; the other bright and silvery, without spots, and the head small. Even the pectoral and anal fins had more spines in the newly run fish, some of the smaller ones having been probably rubbed off in spawning by the other. I would not for some time, till assured by an experienced fisherman, believe that the spent fish was a salmon; and when their flesh was compared on the table, one was white, flabby, and bad, and without curd; the other of the brightest pink, and full of dense curd. Then, though of the same length, one weighed only 4lbs. the other 9 lbs. When it is recollected that different salmon and sea trout spawn at different times in the same river, and that fish of the same year being born at different seasons, from Christmas to Lady-day,—and having migrated to the sea in spring-run up the rivers of all sizes in summer and autumn-the young salmon from 2 to 10lbs. in weight, the young sea trout from to 3lbs. in weight-it is not difficult to account for the variety of names given by casual observers to individuals of these two species. HAL. WELL, is your tackle all ready? It is a fine fresh and cloudy morning, with a gentle breeze-a day made for salmon fishing. [They proceed to the river.] HAL.-Now, my friends, I give up the two best pools to you till one o'clock; and I shall amuse myself above and below-probably with trout fishing. As there is a promise of a mixed day, with-what is rare in this country a good deal of sunshine, I will examine your flies a little, and point out those I think likely to be useful; or rather, I will show you my flies, and, as you all have duplicates of them, you can each select the fly which I point out, and place it in a part of the book where it may easily be found. First: when the cloud is on, I advise one of these three golden twisted flies, silk bodies, orange, red and pale blue, with red, orange, and grey hackle, golden pheasant's hackle for tail, and kingfisher's and golden pheasant's brown hackle under the wing; beginning with the brightest fly, and changing to the darker one. Should the clouds disappear, and it become bright, change your flies for darker ones, of which I will point out three-a fly with a brown body and a red cock's hackle, and one with a dun body and black hackle, with a brown mallard's wing. All these flies have, you see, silver twist bodies, and all kingfisher's feather under the wing, and golden pheasant's feather for the tail. For the size of your flies, I recommend the medium size, as the water is small this day; but trying all sizes, from the butterfly size of a hook of half an inch in width, to one of a quarter. Now, Physicus, cast your orange fly into that rapid at the top of the pool; I saw a large fish run there this moment. You fish well, were common trout your object; but, in salmon fishing, you must alter your manner of moving the fly. It must not float quietly down the water; you must allow it to sink a little, and then pull it back by a gentle jerk-not raising it out of the water,-and then let it sink again, till it has been shown in motion, a little below the surface, in every part of your cast. That is right, he has risen. PHYS.-I hold him. He is a noble fish! HAL.-He is a large grilse, I see by his play; or a young salmon, of the earliest born this spring. Hold him tight; he will fight hard. PHYS.-There! he springs out of the water! He is a merry one! HAL. He runs against the stream, and will soon be tired,-but do not hurry him. Pull hard now, to prevent him from running round that stone. gaff him for you. fish of this tide. He comes in. I will I have him! A goodly. But see, Poietes has a |