THE LAKE TROUT. 



239 



"Vomer with a raised crest, armed with strong teeth extend- 

 ing backward from the chevron, but free from the shaft; a 

 band of strong teeth on hyoid bone (base of tongue). Head 

 very long, somewhat flattened above, its length averaging 

 nearly one-fourth the total (exclusive of caudal); body rather 

 sleAder (varying much with food, etc.), its greatest depth 

 averaging little more than length of head. Space between 

 eyes about one-fourth length of head. Mouth very lar"-e, 

 the length of its cleft averaging about half of head, the 

 maxillary extending much beyond eye. Teeth very strong. 

 Adipose fin small. Caudal fin always more or less concave 

 or forked. 



"General color dark gray — more or less olive-tinged in 

 life, the color varying with circumstances from very pale to 

 almost black. Upper parts, especially top of head, with ver- 

 miculations of darker olive or gray. Dorsal and anal fins 

 reticulate. Sides with round pale spots, usually light gray or 

 somewhat yellowish, said to be sometimes tinged with reddish. 

 Lower fins less ornate than in the brook Trout; usually nearly 

 plain." 



The Lake Trout is essentially a deep-water fish, and as soon 

 as the temperature of the water changes in the spring, he 

 leaves the surface where he has been for a short time, and 

 seeks the more congenial "deep sea." It is doubtless 

 largely owing to this fact that so little is known of him as a 

 game fish, since, in order to catch him in the deep waters 

 where he is usually found, such a clumsy form of tackle has 

 ordinarily to be used as almost deprives the process of any 

 pleasure or sport. Yet, while it is eminently true that he 

 lacks the verve and dash of the Trout or the Bass, he has 

 a manifest and dogged determination all his own, that marks 

 him as being very different from the sluggish Pickerel. 



In our western cities, especially those bordering on the 

 Great Lakes, his form is very well known, being seen in every 

 fish-stall, and being highly esteemed for its toothsome quali- 



