YARROW ON, THE SPECKLED TROUT OF UTAH LAKE. 367 



excellence is uot surpassed by any fish, either fresh or salted. The deli- 

 cacy and firmness of its flesh commeiiid it to all who have a preference 

 for fish-diet. Furthermore, it retains for a longer period than most fish 

 its unequaled and unique flavor. All that are captured are readily 

 disposed of, mostly in a fresh state, though a few are salted and smoked. 

 In no case is it used for manure, nor is it ever exported. The retail 

 price of the fish in its fresh state varies from twenty to thirty cents per 

 pound ; wholesale, from ten to fifteen cents ; salted ones bring from ten 

 to fifteen cents. These prices are about those formerly obtained, and 

 are now current in the Salt Lake market. 



The foregoing observations, as already stated, are the result of notes 

 taken in Utah in July, 1872, by my assistant, Mr. Henshaw, and myself, 

 though in some instances valuable aid and information were obtained 

 from Mr. Peter Madseu, an intelligent Danish fisherman of Utah Lake, 

 who kindly placed at our disposal data obtained during many years' 

 experience acquired in this locality. 



In conclusion, it m'ay be stated that the Utah Lake trout is of vast 

 economic importance to the settlers of the Great Salt Lake Valley, sup- 

 plying as it does a comparatively cheap and most excellent article of 

 sustenance, and one to the preservation of which special attention should 

 be speedily given, since, if means are not shortly taken to prevent the 

 destructive methods of fishing now employed, the species must become 

 extinct after a few years. A number of fishermen, having no fear of the 

 law, which is virtually a dead letter, are in the habit of visiting Utah 

 Lake from Salt Lake City and other localities, and make use of nets of 

 very small mesh for the express purpose of taking in the small fish, 

 which readily sell for ten cents per pound in the Salt Lake market. As 

 already mentioned, this reckless and destructive mode of fishing is in 

 no wise tolerated by the people of Pangwitch, nor should it be by the 

 residents of Provo City, near Utah Lake. Mr. Madsen, who lives on 

 the lake, and who has been engaged in fishing for the past eighteen 

 years, complains bitterly of these interlopers and law-breakers, as he 

 finds his profits are gradually decreasing with the number of fish from 

 year to year. He mentions that, in 1864, such was the abundance of this 

 fish, that in one haul of the seine, discarding all other kinds, he secured 

 between thirty-five and thirty-seven hundred-weight of trout, while at 

 the present time five hundred pounds is considered an enormous haul. 



In September and October the trout are somewhat scattering and do 

 not approach the shore ; consequently large hauls are seldom made at 

 this period. Mr. Madsen states it as his opinion that the female in 

 spawning ejects only a portion of her eggs, as he has found on dissect- 

 ing the trout after the spawning season eggs of various sizes, some 

 very small and others full grown. The manner of seine-fishing in the 

 locality mentioned is quite similar to that pursued in the East, except- 

 ing that two boats are used instead of one, the seine being paid out 

 from one of the boats, which generally takes position to the southward 



