256 The Trouts of America 



and Washington, and Is very similar to the 

 typical species {irtdeus). It is also the fish by 

 which Dr. Gilbert differentiated the rainbows 

 from the steelheads and the cut-throats ; the size 

 of the scales, as before stated, being the basis of 

 the Doctor's conclusions. Certainly it is less 

 slender than the cut-throat, and the snout is more 

 rounded, there is no red blotch on the lower 

 jaw, and no teeth at the base of the tongue ; 

 again, it seldom grows larger than a pound in 

 weight. Jordan and Evermann state that this 

 fish " apparently merges into the ordinary rainbow 

 southward, if indeed the two forms are dis- 

 tinguishable. We know of no diagnostic char- 

 acter, but further comparison is needed." 



This fish is the one sought after by the 

 enthusiastic anglers of Seattle and Tacoma, and 

 I am told it rises fiercely to the artificial fly, 

 without any peculiar preference for form or 

 color; but doubtless there are anglers in the 

 cities named who are ready to " swear by " a 

 combination of colors that represent no living 

 thing on earth, in the air, or in the water. 



The " McCloud River rainbow trout " {Salmo 

 irideus shasta, the subspecific from Mt. Shasta, 

 California) is of peculiar interest, as it was with 



