258 The Trouts of America 



in fresh waters — has been agitated and dis- 

 cussed by ichthyologists and fishermen. Does 

 not this trait of the salmon-trouts and charr- 

 t routs of going to salt water, wherever easily 

 accessible, throw some light on the subject ? It 

 seems to be equally instinctive with all salmonoids 

 to seek the sea after the spawning season is over, 

 as it is for them to seek the cold upper waters 

 to spawn, those habitually living in landlocked 

 lakes or inland fluvial waters distant from salt 

 water, having naturally lost their sea-going in- 

 stinct from its long disuse. 



It is this species of rainbow by which the 

 anglers living east of the Pacific slope must 

 judge of the game and edible qualities of the 

 species ; and as it thrives in many waters dis- 

 tant from its native habitat, we are not lacking 

 data upon which to form a correct judgment. 

 This fish is somewhat erratic in its likes and 

 dislikes of certain waters, particularly those of 

 the Atlantic east of the Alleghanies. We find 

 it thriving beyond the Mississippi as far west as 

 the Rocky Mountains, where it has been planted 

 very generally, and the Waltonians are one in 

 praise of its acrobatic and other game traits. 

 The same may be said of this subspecies wher- 



