Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1846 edition. Excerpt: ... chapter it. ' The trout is a very generous fish--a fish that is highly valued both in this and foreign nations.' Walton. Of the numerous tribes of fishes which inhabit the streams of Britain the trout is the handsomest, the best, and the most sought after by the fly-fisher. It belongs to the genus Salmo, which is included in the Cuvierian order Malacopterygii Abdominales. This order embraces all those fish which have soft rayed fins, and the ventral fins placed far behind and unattached to the bone of the shoulder. All the Salmonidce have eight fins, namely, two pectoral or breast fins; two ventral fins, on the belly next below the pectorals; the anal fin, behind the ventral fins; the caudal or tail fin; and two dorsal or back fins--the hindermost of which is very small, fleshy, and without rays. Although the trout in different localities vary exceedingly, both in appearance and quality, it is supposed by Professor Jurine, of Geneva, who, indeed, is by no means solitary in the opinion, that there exists but one species--the difference of form, size, and color in the trout of different localities being accounted for by the operation of the peculiarity of their food and of the water they inhabit. Many naturalists, however, think that more than one species, and several varieties, of the common trout exist in this country. The unlearned are certainly apt to multiply species, being deceived by the external appearance and colors of the fish--from which a hasty opinion ought not to be formed. 'The coloring matter, ' says Sir Humphrey Davy, 'is not in the scales but in the surface of the skin immediately beneath them, and is probably a secretion easily affected by the health of the animal.' The soil, the season, and the water undoubtedly exercise..
