FISHES OF NEW YORK 273 



sixth of Icnofh of head. The dorsal fin is about midway be- 

 tween tip of snout and root of tail. The lenjjth of its base 

 equals about half its greatest depth of body. The longest rav 

 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. !). Scales in lateral line 

 225 to 235; six gill rakers above the angle of the first arch; 11 

 below. 



The coloration is highly variable with age and locality. The 

 upi)er i>arts 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 interior 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 Labra- 

 dor on the north. The distribution of this trout has been won- 

 derfully ext(^nded by artificial introduction, as it has always 

 been a favorite with fish culturists. It is now to be found 

 thriving in numy of the western states and territories, and is 

 l)articularly thrifty in Nebraska, Colorado, Nevada, and Cali- 

 fornia. It has also been sent to Mexico and to P^uropean coun- 

 tries. The average brook trout seldom exc<M'ds 7 or 8 inches in 

 lenglli, and smaller individuals are much more abun<lant and 

 require legal i)rotection. In the northeastern i)art of its 

 habitat the brook trout grows uiuch larger, si)ecimens weighing 

 from 'A to G ])ouuds being not uncommon; and in one of the 

 Rangeley lakes an individual weighing 11 jjounds is recorded; 

 while Seth Green took a 12 pound specim<'n in the Sault Ste 

 Marie, and Hallock mentions one wlii<h was said to weigh 17 

 pounds. 



