THE FISHES OF ALASKA. 265 



In Heckman Lake, August 30, many were seen jumping. 



In the Bristol Bay region this species appears to reach a larger size than elsewhere in Alaska. On July 



4, 190<i. Mr. John X. Cobb measured and weighed 27 examples i 14 mules and 13 females i from the Xusha- 

 gak River. The largest male was 29.25 inches long and weighed 8.5 pounds; another that was 29.75 

 inches long weighed only 7.5 pounds. The largest female was 26.75 inches long and weighed 7 pounds, 

 while another 27.25 inches long weighed but (i pounds. The average of the 11 males was: Length 27 

 inches, weight (>.9:5 pounds; females, length 25. li inches, weight li.2 pounds. On July 19 Mr. Cobb 

 examined 5 males and 1 female from the same river. These ran from L8 to 19 inches in length and 1.25 to 

 2 pounds in weight . 



Tie- salmon trout, to call it by another of its names, is the most persistent and destructive enemy 



of the salmon eggs and fry. When the sockeye, humpback, and coho are running upstream thej are 



accompanied by vast numbers of salmon trout, which apparently have no other purpose than feeding upon 



their eggs. And the trout are quite as por-i.-ieni in ascending rapids and jumping falls as are the 



salmon themselves. Not only during the spawning time do the trout remain, but so long a- i ho eggs 



• are to be found, and after the eggs have hatched the fry and fingerlings fall a ready prey to this 



voracious trout, which pursues them not only in the streams and lakes hut down tO salt water, where 



the destruction continues until the salmon have grown too large to be eaten. 



( in August 3, among the salmon a1 Aiognak Falls, were hundreds - perhaps thousands -of the trout, 

 all trying just as hard and just as successfully to ascend the falls. They jumped surprisingly well, 

 sometimes it seemed even better than the salmon: even little ones not over i; inches long would jump 

 beautifully, and could maintain themselves in the vertical current quite well. Every possible resting 



pool, however small, had Iron! in it. and in the larger ones troul and salmon were mixed. There were 

 some very large trout, ami in a pool above the falls several of good size were seen. 



Similar conditions were observed al l'ablof Harbor, a small ar f Freshwater Bay, Chichagof 



Island, July 25. Into the head of this small bay empties l'ablof stream, a small creek perhaps 50 feel 

 wide. Near its mouth is a falls where the water drops by broken stages some 20 or 25 feet al 1"\\ tide, 



bill less al high tide. Below ibis falls wen- hundreds of humpbacks with a g I many soekoyos and a 



few cohoes and dogs, all trying to get over the falls. With them were hundreds- -perhaps thousands — 

 of Dolly Vanlen (rout and a good many oiilihroat trout, all trying equally hard to ascend the falls. 



They could be seen in great numbers lying in the | Is below or swimming about, or making heroic 



efforts to scale the falls. Every ] I or possible resting place in tie- falls was literally packed with 



trout, 2 or :S layers deep where the water permitted, all with their heads upstream. Among them 

 in the larger pools was an occasional salmon. 



The troul could be seen jumping quite as often as the salmon and apparently with even greater 

 success in ascending the falls. They have an advantage in their smaller size, being able to find resting 

 places in the small nooks and eddies. They are able, however, to jump very well, and to maintain 



themselves against or even to ascend a practically vertical current. 



Ordinarily the Dolly Vardeii troul does noi take high rank as a game fish; it is usually loggy, never 

 jumps, and makes a poor fight. But this is noi always the case- much depends upon the water, the 

 particular fish, and perhaps oilier factors. 



One of us has found that these trout are very good lighters in the swiftly Mowing waters of Idaho, 

 particularly in the Salmon River and elsewhere in the Sawtooth Mountains. In Alaska they are very good 

 game fish, and there is scarcely a stream or lake in that country where the angler may not find excellent 

 sport with them. Wehave angled forthemin many Alaskan waters, among which may be mentioned the 

 Nana Stream and lakes near Loring, small slreams near I'nalaska, Indian River, and creek at Silver Bay 

 near Sitka. Afognak Falls, and Pablof Falls. At the last -named place we found them unexpectedly gamey. 

 A 12 to 15 inch fish in this turbulent water was abb' to make a light that would delight the heart of any 

 angler. Moreover, these trout rise to the fly readily, lake it witha rush, and do noi give up the fight until 

 safe in the creel. Even when lifted from the water or placed in the landing net they continue to flop 

 with great vigor, so that it is not an easy matter to remove the hook. They do not often jump from the 

 water when hooked, though they occasionally do. 



The best, flies were small ones of red color; those most resembling salmon spawn were the most killing. 

 A fly of this kind used at Pablof Falls would scarcely touch the water before dozens of trout would vie with 

 each other in frantic efforts to seize it. Occasionally a fish would discover the nature of the fly and turn 

 away, but usually one of them would take it. Salmon spawn, however, is the bait that never fails. 



