26 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



8. Eastern Brook Trout; Speckled Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) . 



The natural western limit of this brook trout in the United States 

 is northeastern Minnesota. It inhabits lakes as well as streams and 

 varies in size according to locality. It does not flourish in water 

 temperature over 68° F., and about 50° F. is preferable. The largest 

 trout of this species authentically recorded weighed somewhat over 

 12^ pounds. In some lakes trout of 5 or 6 pounds are not uncom- 

 mon, but such large fish are seldom found in streams unless the streams 

 are tributary to fairly large lakes. In streams of moderate size 

 trout of 1 or 2 pounds' weight are to be considered large, and in most 

 brooks a trout of one-half or three-fourths pound is an exception, 

 at least in recent years. Its spawning season is in fall. 



Plants of eastern brook trout have been made by the Bureau of 

 Fisheries in various park waters, and the fish is now abundant and 

 widely distributed. It is known to occur in Gardiner River and its 

 tributaries with their branches, particularly those of the west side: 

 Glen, Fawn, Panther, Indian, Willow, Winter, Straight, and Obsidian 



Fig. 8.— Eastern brook trout; speckled trout. 



Creeks; Swan, Grizzly, and Beaver Lakes; Gibbon and Madison 

 Rivers; Solfatara Creek; Virginia Meadows; Firehole River, above 

 Kepler Cascades, where, according to the 1897 report of the super- 

 intendent of the park, this trout was very abundant, and between 

 its junction with the Gibbon and the lower falls; Upper Little Fire- 

 hole ; Upper Nez Perce Creek, but, according to Park Ra,n§cr Dewing, 

 not in lower Nez Perce. According to Mr. Dinsmore it is found in 

 Juniper Creek, a tributary of the Upper Nez Perce, and it occurs in 

 Lone Star Creek and Spring Creek. Tower and Carnelian Creeks 

 above the falls contain it, according to Mr. Dinsmore. It is abundant 

 in Shoshone Creek, and according to the park superintendent's 1897 

 report that creek was alive with brook trout up to H pounds in 

 weight. Small fish are found in lower De Lacy Creek. 



The brook trout is one of the most noted and esteemed of American 

 game fishes, but there must be something besides activity that makes 

 it such a general favorite, as in that respect it is surpassed by several 

 others. One appealing attribute is its beauty of coloration, and 

 another its delicacy of flavor, which is hardly surpassed by any 

 other fish. 



The brook trout may be taken by almost any method known to 

 anglers. In open streams fly fishing is the method par excellence. 



