36 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 63 
These rivers and lakes are well supplied with fishes, exceedingly 
abundant in number, although representing but a few species. Of 
chief interest and value among these are the trout which appear to 
have found here the most advantageous conditions for growth and 
development. At least 2 native species occur, Salmo henshawi, the 
large cut-throat which occasionally reaches a weight of over 20 lbs., 
and S. regalis, the royal silver trout, much smaller than the former, 
but a most beautiful fish, remarkable for the brilliant silver of its 
sides and the unparalleled blue of its dorsal surface. Formerly the 
lakes and rivers of the region fairly swarmed with trout, and during 
the spawning season they often entered the rivers in such numbers 
that it was difficult for them to find room in the channels. Several 
species of suckers and large minnows occur in countless numbers. 
Fre. 38.—Bird Island, Pyramid Lake. Photograph by Paine. 
Of these Chasmistes cujus, the Kouiewee of the Piute Indians, in- 
habits only Pyramid and Winnemucca Lakes. It lives in their depths, 
and is never seen until in the spring, when great schools suddenly ap- 
pear at the mouth of the Truckee River, crowd up the channel and 
cover the bars, often pushing each other out of the water in their 
struggles to find room enough to deposit their eggs. Formerly this 
was an occasion of rejoicing among the Indians, for here were num- 
bers of large, fat fishes which only need be kicked out of the water 
and hung on the bushes to dry. The Piutes still continue to cure them 
in large quantities for winter food. A small white fish abounds in 
favorable places. Some of the minnows reach a foot in length, bite 
