THE FISHES OF ALASKA. 259 



Another specimen (no. 02810) from the same phice, an immature male 9.5 inches long, was similar 

 in life color to the one above ilescribed, except that there were no spots on ventrals. and cheeks and 

 opercles were more spotted, there Ijeing 3 or 4 spots on preopercle and the same nuinber on opercle. 



An example (no. 028111, 11 inches long, from Courtney Lake, was a male somewhat more mature 

 than no. 02810, and its color was similar, except that the spots on side of head were less numerous, 

 being but 4 on upper part of cheek, 2 on preopercle and 4 on upper part of opercle. On no. 02810 the 

 spots extended farther down; scales about 1G5. 



Another example (no. 02812), 6 inches long, from same place, is profusely spotted like the others 

 and shows traces of parr marks. The red on throat present, btit not distinct. 



A fine 13-inch example, taken July 11 by Lieutenant Mitchell in Karta Bay Stream a short distance 

 above the mouth, when fresh was dark olive on back, side silvery, belly white; back and upper four- 

 fifths of side profusely covered with small irregular black spots; side of head witlr a few small round 

 black spots: cheek and middle of side with pale rosy wash; throat with light red wash; fins all dark; 

 dorsal and caudal with many large lilack spots; anal a little paler and with fewer spots; ventrals still 

 paler, black inside; pectoral dark, with 2 or 3 small black spots. Dorsal 10; anal 12. 



A 9.5-inch specimen (no. 02944), weighing 4 ounces, caught by Dr. Evermann at Palilof Falls, 

 July 25, was in life yellowish green on back and upper part of side; middle of side slightly rosy, belly 

 silvery; back with close-set small roundish black spots; side with larger black spots; top of head and 

 cheek with small round black spots; opercle somewhat rosy; throat rich red. 



Another was silvery, dark, profusely spotted with black, and with the red on throat very distinct. 



No. 03021, taken at Klawak, August 2(i, had the body and head profusely and uniformly covered 

 with large, irregular black spots; fins all densely spotted. 



Two 7.5-inch specimens (2 and 2.5 ounces each), taken by Lieutenant Mitchell and Chief Engineer 

 Crater at Silver Bay near Sitka, had the spots confined chiefly to back and side alxive lateral line and 

 heail; caudal peduncle with more spots; very little red showing on throat of second, none on fii-st; 

 side somewhat rosy, cheek also. It may be that these are young steelheads. 



We have critically examined more than 30 excellent examples of cutthroat trout from the vicinity 

 of Yes Bay and Loring, and many other specimens from those places, Klawak, and elsewhere, in 

 Southeast Alaska, have passed tlu-ough our hands. An example 14.5 inches long from Lake McDonald 

 may be regarded as typical; Head 4.4; depth 4.4; eye in head 6.5; snout 3.5; maxillary 1.9, reaching 

 slightly past orbit; pectoral 1.8; least depth of caudal peduncle 2.4; scales about 146. Body robust, 

 not greatly compressed, the caudal peduncle stout; head rather long and conic; snout rather long 

 and pointed. Entire body covered somewhat profusely with small stellate black spots, less numerous 

 on head, where they are more nearly round. Dorsal, anal, and caudal fins profusely spotted; pectoral 

 with a few spots, ventrals plain; ventrals and anal slightly tipped with yellow; a Iwight red dash 

 on the throat. 



The Alaska cutthroat is close to the Alaska rainbow and may not be always readily distinguished 

 from it. We believe them to be distinct species, however. The cutthroat may he distinguished by 

 its red thi'oat, more stellate black spots, longer head, longer maxillary, less brightly tipped ventral and 

 anal fins, and smaller scales. The number of scales in the lateral line runs from 140 to 180, while in the 

 rainbow it runs from 120 to 140. The cuttlu'oat is not as large as the rainliow, the largest example seen 

 by us being only 14.5 inches long. The numerous examples examined range in length from 6 to 14.5 

 inches. At Klawak local anglers stated that the cuttluoat does not attain as large size as the rainbow 

 of the same stream, and this statement was liome out by our own observations at that place; also at 

 Loring and Lake McDonald. 



The Alaska cutthroat trout ranks high as a game fish, though not equaling the rainbow. It is a much 

 better game fish than the Dolly Varden or salmon trout. It strikes with more vim, fights more viciously, 

 dives more deeply, ranges more widely, and is much more apt to jump; but when once out of the water 

 it is more quiet than' the Dolly Varden. It takes the fly readily, but of course the baited hook is more 

 attractive. 



Mr. A. B. Alexander and the senior writer of this report visited San Mateo Lake June 22 expressly to 

 oljtain examples of this trout. At first we rowed about over the lake some time, tiyuig different appar- 

 ently likely places with different kinds of flies and, finally, other lures. One slight strike was gotten 

 in the upper end of the lake, but no others until we reached a small cove on the south side, where 



