272 Natural History of the 



rous in the same lakes as the Cat-fish and Perch, and all the way 

 up the Rouge as far as we ascended. 



The three above species were almost always found together and 

 there were never any trout in the lakes which they inhabited. 



4. Salmo fontinalis, Mitchill. (Brook or Spotted Trout), — 

 Abounds in nearly all the lakes and brooks through the district. 

 One specimen only was taken in the River Rouge itself, and it is 

 not found in those lakes in which the Cat-fish, Perch and Pike 

 occur, nor in their outlets, though frequently abundant in the 

 small streams flowing into them. In May, at Sixteen Island Lake, 

 we found the best time to fish for trout was after sunset, when thev 

 approached the shores to feed in the shallow water. Those taken in 

 this lake varied very much in color and markings, some specimens 

 being entirely dark silvery lead-color with a few very small scarlet 

 spots about the lateral line, whilst others were light yellowish 

 brown, with large and numerous scarlet spots. Many were mark- 

 ed with large irregular black patches on the back and sides giv- 

 ing them a very peculiar appearance. They were much less 

 brilliant in their tints here than in the small lakes and streams we 

 afterwards visited. The largest specimen of the lead-colored varie- 

 ty, which was very numerous, measured fifteen and a half inches 

 in length, and seven inches round the body behind the pectoral 

 fins. The young fry banded with black and about an inch long, 

 were very numerous May 19th, in a small stream running into the 

 lake. After leaving Sixteen Island Lake in June, we found all the 

 small lakes and streams between Balsam or Chain Lake and the 

 one in the 11th Lot 3rd Range Montcalm, swarming with trout, 

 which lay in shoals in the pools of the streams, and in the shallows at 

 their entrance into the lakes, watching for any prey which the 

 water might bring down. In such places the water was so clear, 

 it was necessary to take great care in concealing oneself, as the 

 least movement caused all the fish to dart away, and they would 

 only bite when a puff of wind ruffled the surface of the water. 

 In the cold deep lakes they took the bait very quietly and gently, 

 and it was often difficult to tell when we had a bite, for as there 

 was no current they could examine any object which looked tempt- 

 ing at their leisure, but in the rapid streams, foaming and tumbling 

 over rocks and prostrate trees, they left their concealment beneath 

 some projecting rock or fallen log at the moment the bait touched 

 the water, and dashed at it with so much violence that they were 

 frequently hooked in the body by rushing over it. They were 



