132 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



There are few ang^le-worras in Oregon or Washington, perhaps none. 

 The writer has never been able to find them there, yet they will proba- 

 bly be hereafter introdaced by civilization. (Introduction of certain 

 worms, bugs, &c., the concomitants of civilization, into new countries 

 by civilized emigrants, is by no means uncommon. Examples of this 

 are given by Darwin in his remarks on Kew Zealand ; vide Voyages of 

 a Naturalist.) 



Common raw meat is a very good bait for these trout — the tougher 

 the better ; we generally used the meat of a crow, killed for the purpose. 

 This flesh combines redness and a rank smell with its proverbial tough- 

 ness — all important desiderata for " killing" bait. Grubs and the larva? 

 of wasps are also good bait, but troublesome. When the fish are capri- 

 cious we have frequently found good sport by trolling with one of the 

 belly-fins of a fresh-killed fish. 



On Puget Sound, in the vicinity of Fort Steilaooom, the writer had 

 the best sjiort. A much longer residence taught him the " ropes" better; 

 and besides, the rattlesnake was absent. Nearly every stream and brook 

 abounds in trout ; all, except the salmon-trout, not yet described, of the 

 black-spotted species. Here we .noticed many peculiarities distinguish- 

 ing tbis fish in habits from its Atlantic congener. Although fond of 

 running water, it seeks the more deep and less turbulent portions of the 

 stream, alid it even does not eschew i^erfectly still water. When a 

 youngster, we learned and practiced trout-fishing in those beautiful 

 tributaries of the Delaware, the Beaverkill, and Willa-weemock, in Sul- 

 livan and Delaware Counties, New York. There the trout delight in 

 fierce water, and if found below a violent rapid, or a waterfall, they 

 may be caught almost always just outside the strength of the current, 

 but not by any means are they fond of the Jstill water, a little farther 

 below the rapids, unless, indeed, the weather be very cold ; or if in 

 summer, during the shades of evening, when they repair to the more 

 placid water, that they may the more readily perceive insects and other 

 floating food. But in Washington Territory the brook-trout seems more 

 fond of moderate currents, or of places that are perfectly still, where 

 the waters are well shaded and deep ; and it is rare indeed for the angler 

 to have good sport at the immediate foot of a rapid or fall. One of the 

 best spots for trout-fishing in the neighborhood of Fort Steilacoom is a 

 small portion of the stream running through " Melville's claim," near the 

 "Government garden." This place is where the water of the stream is 

 very sluggish, and almost choked up by lily-pads and grass. There 

 are here but few trees, and the brook only averages 15 feet in width by 

 about 4 in depth. The space in which throwing the line is practicable 

 is but of limited extent, certainly not exceeding 75 yards in length. Here 

 one day in August, 185G, we took twenty-five trout, the weight of the fish 

 running from four ounces to a pound. Bait and flies were both used* 

 Nearer the fort — even within sound of its drums — there is a small iso- 

 lated lake, without outlet, and fed by a small spring. This lake be- 



