YARROW ON THE SPECKLED TROUT OF UTAH LAKE. 365 



Before spawning tile nest is made in the sand or gravel by a rotatory 

 motion of the tail of the male. Into this cavity the eggs are exuded b}'^ 

 the female, which is sedulously guarded by the male until the process is 

 completed, when the latter deposits the milt which is to impregnate the 

 eggs. No further care is taken by either after the deposition of the 

 impregnating substance. Most of the spawning is done in the rivers, 

 but the process takes place in the lakes also to some extent. Spawning 

 is greatly interfered with by the nets used by the fishermen ; knowing 

 the time when the fish begin to run up the rivers, the nets are drawn 

 near the mouths of the waters, and large numbers of fish taken. It is 

 not known at what age this fish begins to breed, nor what period of 

 time the process continues, although both these points might be defi- 

 nitely ascertained by careful observation of captives under favorable 

 circumstances. The act of spawning exerts an injurious eifect on the 

 flesh of the fish, rendering it poor and insipid. In addition, many of the 

 fish seeking the upper parts of the rivers, to fulfill their reproductive 

 duties, do not survive the severe bruises and otber injuries thej meet 

 with in the journej" past the rocks and through the rapid currents of the 

 mountain streams. 



The water in the locality in which the trout spawns has never been 

 noticed to be whitened by the milt, but it does present a translucent 

 pinkish appearance after the event. 



The temperature of water most favorable for hatching appears to be 

 the coldest obtainable, the eggs, in many cases, being laid directly on 

 the bottom of ice-cold mountain springs. The color of the spawn is 

 whitish pink, each egg, just previous to spawning, being of the size of 

 No. 4 shot. In July the ieggs are not larger than No. 12, or dust-shot. 

 The eggs, when spawned, always sink to the bottom, where they remain 

 unless eaten or carried away by the swift current. As already stated, the 

 nest is made from gravel and stones entirely, no other materials being 

 used as far as has been observed. The eggs are hatched in March, 

 April, and May, but the number of days required by the process is not 

 known. The spawn and young fish suffer greatly froni the attacks of 

 other fish, aquatic reptiles, and even from the large fish of their own 

 species, these seeming to have no affection for their young. It is rather 

 a singular fact that the very young trout is seldom seen or taken either 

 by the hook or net, and I am unable to account for the same unless it 

 is that it resorts to unknown localities until a larger growth is obtained. 

 Its food, so far as known, consists principally of small insects. 



No steps have as yet been taken to increase the supply of this 

 valuable fish by artificial means, the yield still being large enough 

 to meet the wants of the settlers and miners ; but in the course of a few 

 years artificial propagation must be resorted to, for although certain 

 laws have been passed regulating the size of the meshes of nets, no 

 attention is paid to them by some greedy individuals, who think 

 only of filling their own pockets at the expense of future generations. 



