44 



of colour in individuals of both species, one being difference 

 of food, and another of water ; the latter probably has the most to 

 do with it, as we know that trout that inhabit ponds or lie in deep 

 pools under cover, are dark coloured externally, and those in clear 

 streams running over sandy bottoms, are light and vivid of colour. 

 Trout, moreover, inhabiting still, sluggish waters, dams and lakelets, are 

 of stouter proportions than those of rapid, tumbling streams. The 

 difference is remarked by all who have fished the waters of Ottawa 

 County, those of the lakes being deep of body and proportionately short, 

 while those taken in the outlets are longer and afford more sport when 

 hooked. No trout are found in the waters south of the Ottawa, east of 

 the Chats, where the Laurentides cross the river, whilst above that they 

 abound in the streams on both sides. I have as my authority the late 

 Dr. VanCortlandt for stating that though they have been placed in 

 streams on the south shore, they never lived there any time. The 

 reason for this probably lies in the fact that from the different geological 

 formations of the country on tbe two sides of the Ottawa, the streams 

 to the south are more liable to be filled with surface water which the 

 trout cannot endure, and neither are tliey ordinarily as limpid and pure 

 as the mountain streams and lakelets. 



Of the Lake or Salmon trout in this district little is really known 

 as to species. I can only find one kind alluded to as abundant, namely, 

 the lake Trout, (Salvelinus Naymacush) which is found in most of the 

 larger lakes in Ottawa and Pontiac Counties, and occasionally in the 

 Lievre and Gatineau, but always near the outlet of a lake. It attains 

 a lai'ge size, though its average full weight in these waters is from 8 

 to 12 lbs. One was brought into Buckingham by some Indians a few 

 years ago, which weighed close on to 30 lbs., and in a paper read 

 before the O. N. H. Society in 1865 specimeris of those fish are men- 

 tioned from the Opeongo of between 50 and 60 lbs., and a specimen that 

 had been caught that summer in Meach's Lake weighing 23 lbs. There 

 is a trout locally known as the grey trout abundant in many of 

 the lakes north of us, seldom attaining more than 4 or 5 lbs. 

 weight. I am firmly of opinion that several species of lake 

 trout inhabit our waters, and that it only requires examination of 

 distinguishing features to define them. All the lake trout lack the 



