SUCKLEY MOXOGRAPH OF THE GENUS SALMO. 



131 



farthest point or the free mai-'^iu of the opsrcuhiui, and the uuiuber of 

 times it is contained in the total length. 



Table showiiifi tlic (■omparative size of the heads of the different sjjeeies of Blaelc-spotted trout. 



* Typical specimens. 



This fine tront npou the Pacific slope replaces the Salmo fontinalis or the 

 delicious red-spotted brook-trout of the Atlantic States, so much prized 

 by both sportsmen and epicures. The fishing is very fine in nearly all 

 the rapid streams of the Coast and Cascade Mountains of Oregon. 



At Fort Dalles, O. T., trout-fishing is good in April, May, June, and 

 July. Many of the rapid snow-water streams descending from Mount 

 Hood abound in delicious fish of this tribe. But all pleasures have 

 their drawbacks, and in this region, after the sunflower blossoms in 

 spring, Piscator must look sharply when fishing, for other kinds of bites 

 than trout-bites, namely, those of rattlesnakes. The great number of 

 these infernal reptiles about Fort Dallas actually interferes much with 

 the enjoyment of angling. These streams have another disadvantage ; 

 they are so thickly lined by cotton-woods, willows, and squaw-bushes, 

 that it is very difficult to find i^ositions where the fly can be successfully 

 cast. Wliere this can be done, the trout rise boldly, and take it greedily, 

 and the fish themselves are active, plump, and delicious, aftbrding good 

 sport. Owing, as above stated, to the dense brush along the banks of 

 these waters, fly-fishing is generally impracticable. The angler is there- 

 fore obliged to resort to " bait-"fishing, which, indeed, has its pleasures, 

 too, as, " old Izaak " has testified. 



