THE FOOD AND GAME FISHES OF NEW YORK. 345 



length of head. The least depth of the caudal peduncle is a little more than one- 

 third of its greatest depth. The head is large and the snout somewhat obtuse. 

 The eye is in front of the middle of its length, a little more than one-half as long as 

 the snout, and about one-sixth of length of head. The dorsal fin is about midway 

 between tip of snout and root of tail. The length of its base equals about half its 

 greatest depth of body. The longest ray equals length of ventral. The ventral 

 origin is a little behind the middle of the dorsal. In the male, when laid backward, 

 it reaches nearly to the vent. The length of the appendage equals that of the 

 eye. The anal base is two-thirds as long as the ventral, its longest ray equal to 

 ventral. The adipose -fin is short and stout, its width two-thirds of its length and 

 about two-thirds of length of eye. D. 10 ; A. 9. Scales in lateral line 225 to 235 ; 

 six gill rakers above the angle of the first arch, 1 1 below. 



BROOK TROUT. 



The coloration is highly variable with age and locality. The upper parts are 

 usually grayish, much mottled with dark olive or black. The dorsal fin and anterior 

 part of caudal base and top of head are also mottled. The caudal has narrow dark 

 bars. The lower fins dusky with a creamy white anterior edge bound behind by a 

 narrow black streak. On the sides numerous pale brownish blotches encircle small 

 vermilion spots. 



The Brook or Speckled Trout of the east is indigenous to the region east of the 

 Alleghany Mountains and the Great Lakes region, extending from North Carolina 

 on the south to Labrador on the north. The distribution of this Trout has been 

 wonderfully extended by artificial introduction, as it has always been a favorite with 

 fish culturists. It is now to be found thriving in many of the Western States and 

 Territories, and is particularly thrifty in Nebraska, Colorado, Nevada, and California. 

 It has also been sent to Mexico and to European countries. The average Brook 

 Trout seldom exceeds 7 or 8 inches in length, and smaller individuals are much 



