THE SUN-PERCH AND THE CATFISH 



from them by artificial fecundation ; we let the fry grow 

 and it did very well. Then we put the fry into the 

 rivers hoping to find them again later, after their stay 

 in the sea where they fatten. But nothing of the sort! 

 In California and Alaska the young fish go back to the 

 streams from which they originally came, but these we 

 thought we had acclimatized never came back. 



" Nevertheless, if we had bad luck with the salmon, 

 we made up for it with the trout and char. At fisheries 

 exhibitions I have pointed out to you these magnificent 

 fish, good-looking and fine specimens which would take 

 a very high place among the show species, if markets 



Fig. 40. — Californian Salmon, Quinnat or King Salmon. Its length 

 may be more than a yard. 



and kitchens did not get them first. The rainbow 

 trout x comes to us from the United States, and its name 

 suits it admirably. When it swims in its wavy course 

 in the water of an aquarium, it seems as though adorned 

 with all the colours of the rainbow. The dark greenish- 

 blue back; the sides of a lighter blue surrounding a 

 purple band; the white belly, with black markings over 

 almost the whole body, give it, with their iridescent 

 flashes, a most glorious livery. Yet, in spite of its 

 beauty, its companion, the fountain char, 2 even sur- 

 passes it. You remember having seen one, with the 

 stripes which cover its back and the tops of the sides. 

 Both pattern and brilliance are indescribable. Its 



1 Oncorhynchus irideus. 2 Salvelinus fontinalis. 



I98 



