21 8 The Trouts of America 



the Eastern brook trout. If he visits the Yellow- 

 stone or any of the large rivers containing this 

 fish, it would be well, however, to have a fly rod 

 of not less than seven or eight ounces, as the fish 

 in such waters frequently attain a weight of six 

 and seven pounds ; the water gear used in the East 

 for trout will answer every purpose on a cut-throat 

 outing ; at least such has been my experience. 



This trout is not, I think, as game as either the 

 red-spotted trout of the East, the rainbow, or the 

 grayling, nor is it as choice a table fish as fonti- 

 nalis. True, it is as muscular in its fight for 

 freedom from the hook as the first-named fish, 

 but its struggles are more brief, and unlike the 

 rainbow and the grayling, it does not leap from 

 the water on a slack line — a true test of the in- 

 telligence of a fish in its resources for escape. 



The cut-throat spawns in the spring, sometimes 

 as early as March, but usually in May and June. 

 The nest is guarded by the male until the eggs are 

 all deposited, which are then left on the bed, sub- 

 ject to the ravages of other fish, the batrachians, 

 and larger water-beetles, which together destroy 

 not less than ninety per cent of the eggs. Happily, 

 the United States Fish Commission and those of 

 many of the states have established hatcheries, 



