THE FISHES OF ALASKA. 265 



In Heckman Lake, August 30, many were seen jumping. 



In the Bristol Bay region this species appears to reaeh a larger size than elsewhere in Alaska. On July 

 4, 1906, Mr. John N. Cobb measiued and weighed 27 examples ( 14 males and 13 females) from the Nusha- 

 gak River. The largest male was 29.25 inches long and weighed 8.5 pounds; another that was 20.75 

 inches long weighed only 7.5 pounds. The largest female was 26.75 inches long and weighed 7 pounds, 

 while another 27.25 inches long weighed but 6 pounds. The average of the 14 males was: Length 27 

 inches, weight 6.93 pounds; females, length 25.6 inches, weight 6.2 pounds. On July 19 Mr. Cobb 

 examined 5 males and 1 female from the same river. These ran from 18 to 19 inches in length and 1.25 to 

 2 pounds in weight. 



The salmon trout, to call it by another of its names, is the most persistent and destructive enemy 

 of the salmon eggs and fry. ^^^len the sockeye, humpback, and coho are running upstream they are 

 accompanied by vast niuubers of salmon trout, which apparently have no other purpose than feeding upon 

 their eggs. And the trout are quite as persistent in ascending rapids and jumping falls as are the 

 salmon themselves. Not only during the spawning time do the trout remain, but so long as the eggs 

 are to be found: and after the eggs have hatched the fry and fingerlings fall a ready prey to this 

 voracious trout, which pursues them not only in the streams and lakes but down to salt water, where 

 the destruction continues until the salmon have grown too large to be eaten. 



On August 3, among the salmon at Afognak Falls, were hundreds — perhaps thousands — c:>f the trout, 

 all trying just as hard and just as successfully to ascend the falls. They jumped surprisingly well, 

 sometimes it seemed even better than the salmon; even little ones not over 6 inches long would jump 

 beautifully, and could maintain themselves in the vertical current quite well. Every possible resting 

 pool, however small, had trout in it, and in the larger ones trout and salmon were mixed. There were 

 some very large trout, and in a pool above the falls several of good size were seen. 



Similar conditions were observed at Pablof Ilarlior, a small arm of Freshwater Bay, Chichagof 

 Island, July 25. Into the head of this small bay empties Paljlof stream, a small creek perhaps 50 feet 

 wide. Near its mouth is a falls where the water drops by broken stages some 20 or 25 feet at low tide, 

 but less at high tide. Below this falls were hundreds of humpbacks with a good many sockeyes and a 

 few cohoes and dogs, all trying to get over the falls. With them were hundreds — perhaps thousands — 

 of Dolly Varden trout and a good many cutthroat trout, all trying equally hard to ascend the falls. 

 They could be seen in great numbers lying in the pools below or swimming about, or making heroic 

 efforts to scale the falls. Every pool or possible resting place in the falls was literally packed with 

 trout, 2 or 3 layers deep where the water permitted, all with their heads upstream. Among them 

 in the larger pools was an occasional salmon. 



The trotit could be seen jiunping quite as often as the salmon and apparently with even gi'eater 

 success in ascending the falls. They have an advantage in their smaller size, being able to find resting 

 places in the small nooks and eddies. They are able, however, to jump very well, and to maintain 

 themselves against or even to ascend a practically vertical current. 



Ordinarily the Dolly Varden trout does not take high rank as a game fish; it is usually loggy, never 

 jumps, and makes a poor fight. But this is not always the case; much depends upon the water, the 

 particular fish, and perhaps other factors. 



One of us has found that these trout are very good fighters in the swiftly flowing waters of Idaho, 

 particularly in the Salmon River and elsewhere in the Sawtooth Mountains. In Alaska they are very good 

 game fish, and there is scarcely a stream or lake in that country where the angler may not find excellent 

 sport with them. Wehave angled forthemin many Alaskan waters, among which may be mentioned the 

 Naha Stream and lakes near Loring, small streams near LTnalaska, Indian River, and creek at Silver Bay 

 near Sitka, Afognak Falls, and Pablof I'alls. At the last-named place we found them unexpectedly gamey. 

 A 12 to 15 inch fish in this turbulent water was able to make a fight that would delight the heart of any 

 angler. Moreover, these trout rise to the fly readily, take it with a rush, and do not give up the fight until 

 safe in the creel. Even when lifted from the water or placed in the landing net they continue to flop 

 with great vigor, so that it is not an easy matter to remove the hook. They do iu)t often jump from the 

 water when hooked, though they occasionally do. 



The best flies were small ones of red color; those most resembling salmon spawn were the most killing. 

 A fly of this kind used at Pablof Falls would scarcely touch the water before dozens of trout woidd vie with 

 each other in frantic efforts to seize it. Occasionally a fish would discover the nature of the fly and turn 

 away, but usually one of them would take it. Salmon spawn, however, is the bait that never fails. 



