52 



The Canadian Field-Naturalist 



[Vol. XXXIII 



Jordan and other authorities could find no difference 

 in the structure of these two varieties (i.e., S. J^am- 

 loops and 5. I^amloops . . ..-) but from the fact 

 that the first is in prime condition at the same time 

 that the other is spawning and has turned black, 

 the writer has not a doubt of their distinctness, but 

 until it is proved by breeding, the fact that they are 

 two species will have to remain unproven." 



98. Crisiivomer namaycush Walbaum. Great Lake 

 Trout. 



Nama\)cush, generally conceded to be our most 

 valuable commercial fresh water fish, inhabits the 

 lakes of n rthern Alberta, and also, supposedly, 

 Minnewanka lake, near Banff. While closely allied 

 to the genus Salvelinus (Charrs) the teeth in the 

 palate, or more correctly the vomeral ridge, easily 

 serve to separate from that genus. To the best of 

 my knowledge this fish will not rise to a fly at any 

 stage in its life a "spoon" or bait being the lures 

 used by sportsmen. The commercial method is 

 netting. 



In the Classified Guide, already referred to, an 

 illustration is given of a Minnewanka "nama}^cush" ? 

 but the body of the fish illustrated does not taper 

 narrowly to the tail ; the tail is not forked, and ex- 

 cepting for the large mouth, the figure depicts the 

 genus Salmo rather than Crisiivomer or Salvelinvs. 

 Of course the illustration may have been made from 

 a faulty painting or cast, but a comparison of it with 

 the excellent illustrations in the Government Check 

 List, Fig. 46, 47, Plate VII, will explain why I 

 state the Minnewanka lake fish is supposedly (?) 

 nama^cusb. 



100. Salvelinus foniinalis Mitchell. Speckled 

 Trout: Brook Trout. 

 Disregarding the importations from Lake Nipigon 

 to the waters of the Mountains Park, this species 

 does not occur in western Canada. In spite of this 

 fact, however, and as stated in the introduction to 

 this paper, more bags of fish are designated "brook 

 trout' 'or "speckled trout" by their proud captors 

 than are named (or more probably misnamed) any- 

 thing else. Foniinalis is unusually unhappy in the 

 matter of its common names. If it is "speckled," 

 so are all the other members of the family! If it 

 inhabits "brooks," it thrives equally well, or even 

 better, in lakes and rivers! It is not a trout but a 

 charr. Notwithstanding everything, including the 

 fact that the Canadian charrs otherwise will not rise 

 to artificial flies, and are poor fighters, fontinalis 

 IS probably the sportiest and most popular fish in the 

 world, and in the Nipigon river on the north shore 

 of Lake Superior specimen fish run up to 10 pounds. 

 Mr. Vick, in the Classified Guide, states that the im- 

 ported fish in the Mountains Park have adapted 



themselves and that they are doing well. It is to be 

 hoped that they are not doing so at the expense 

 of the Cut-throat trout. 

 101. Salvelinus parkU Suckley. Dolly Varden 



Trout: Bull Trout. 

 ( )Salvelinus ? Silver Trout: Bull Trout. 



In the Classified Guide to the fish in the Rocky 

 Mountains Park, the author, Mr. Vick, separates 

 par/fi'i, the Dolly Varden trout, from the Silver 

 trout which he designates "of the same species," but 

 fails to supply us with a scientific name. If there 

 are two Bull trout and I incline to such view 

 myself Mr. Vick's dilemma is my own ! Per- 

 sonally, I separate these charr chiefly by the sheen 

 on the scales: the Dolly Varden is golden in ap- 

 pearance, whilst the Silver Charr is silvery. They 

 both have pink spots, large mouths, and bodies that 

 taper very much toward the tail. They will take 

 any bait from a live or artificial minnow to a mouse 

 or garter snake: are voracious feeders, but poor 

 fighters. I have caught them from six inches long 

 in the headwaters of mountain creeks, to six or seven 

 pounders in the Red Deer river, and Kootenay lake, 

 but they run up to 12 and even 14 pounds. They 

 put in an appearance at the mouths of creeks tribu- 

 tary to the Red Deer river just as the ice is going 

 out, and owing to the fact that they are native 

 to waters unsuitable for the more delicate Salmos, 

 are a valuable and interesting fish. I quote Mr. 

 Cockle, of Kalso, B.C. 



"Besides the large variety of this fish which is 

 indiginous to the waters of Kootenay lake and reach 

 the weight of 10 to 15 pounds and which go up the 

 creeks during high water during June to spawn at 

 the headwaters of the creeks, and which return 

 again when the first snow water comes into the 

 creeks, there is also a small variety which is 

 practically identical, but which seems to stay up the 

 creeks and mountain lakes at all times. These attain 

 a weight of one-half to two pounds, and spawn 

 during October, but whether they are the fry of 

 the larger fish which spawns during the summer or 

 are distinct can only be solved by the hatchery." 



I have on several occasions been told of 

 a fish that occurs in the lake at Sicamous Junction, 

 B.C., and locally known as the "Silver Trout." 

 From my understanding of the matter the Sicamous 

 fish must not be confused with the Silver (charr) 

 trout, above discussed. 



109. Th^mallus tricolor montanus Milner. Mon- 

 tana Grayling. 



The absolute identity of the south Alberta Gray- 

 ling does not appear to be established, but the 

 Government Check List refers it to the above 

 species. I have personally never seen an AlbertaZv 

 Grayling, but the curator of the Calgary Museun/%) 



vcf: 



