FIELD BOOK OF PONDS AND STREAMS 

 Trout — SalmonidcB 



Brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis. — Brook trout are the 

 choicest of the famous salmon family, the symbol of high 

 spirited gaminess in fish life. In America several kinds of 

 fishes are called trout and the word does not connote the wild 

 grace and delicacy which especially belong to real trout. 

 But the English keep the special name "charr" for this 

 branch of the salmon family. Other members of this genus 

 are the Rangeley Lake trout {Salvelinus oquassa), and the 

 "Dolly Varden" trout or salmon {Salvelinus malma) which 

 lives in streams west of the Rocky Mountains. These and 

 other trout in the genus Salvelinus are brown or olive colored, 

 spotted with gray or scarlet, and their fins are tinged with 

 bright colors. Their scales are small and well hidden in the 

 skin. 



The brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis (Fig. 271), is covered 

 with red spots on a mottled black and olive background which 

 fades almost to white upon the ventral side. It is heavier 

 headed than other "charrs," rather large mouthed, and 

 though it varies in size with its living place, it seldom weighs 

 more than seven pounds and is usually smaller. Brook trout 

 can live only in clear cold water, but it does not matter whether 

 they are in ponds or brooks, or rivers, and they will even 

 migrate back and forth to the sea when that is easily accessible. 

 But in nearly all their haunts they are each year becoming 

 more scarce because of overfishing, pollution of water, and the 

 varied uses which humanity has made of their native streams. 

 For most persons, even many sportsmen, the place of the 

 wild trout is being filled by fattened trout reared in private 



ponds. 



Brook trout spawn from early fall to late November. 



Size. — Many adults of spawning age measure but 6 inches 

 while others are 10 to 12 inches long and may weigh several 

 pounds. 



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