4 CULTURE OF THE MONTANA. GRAYLING. 



vomer, and palatines; none on tongue. Gill rakers 5 + 12. Scales 

 moderate, 82 to 85 along lateral line, with 8 rows above and 10 rows 

 below; lateral line nearly straight, curving upward slightly toward 

 the head. Dorsal fin long and high, the height greater than depth 

 of body; 18 to 21 rays. Caudal fin strongly forked. Coloration: 

 Back bluish-gray with purplish reflections; sides and gill-covers 

 lighter, with purple and silvery reflections, beautifully iridescent; 

 scales with a pearly luster; belly pure white; a few V-shaped black 

 spots between the head and middle of dorsal fin, but none posteriorly; 

 two oblong, bluish black blotches in cleft between opercle and 

 branchiostegals, more pronounced in the male ; a fine on upper border 

 of belly from ventral to pectoral fins, dark and heavy in the male, 

 very faint in female. Dorsal fin edged with a red or rosy border; 

 four to seven vertical rows of red or rosy roundish spots, ocellated 

 with white between the dorsal rays; dark blotches forming lines 

 between the rows of red spots. Ventral fins with three rose-colored, 

 branching stripes along the rays, darker between. Pectoral and anal 

 fins plain, with dark border. 



Origin. — It is very probable that the Arctic grayling was the parent 

 stock from which the Mchigan and Montana graylings descended; 

 and from the fact that the habitats of the three species are so 

 widely separated, it is not unreasonable to suppose that the Mclugan 

 and Montana forms were conveyed thence from the Arctic regions 

 during the Glacial period. This theory is strengthened by the fact 

 that Elk Lake, a half mile from the Montana grayling station, is 

 abundantly inhabited b}' both grayling and the lake trout {Cris- 

 tivomer namaycush) , which latter fish is found nowhere else west of 

 Lake Mcliigan. 



Game and food qualities. — The Montana grayling is a most grace- 

 ful and beautiful fish, whose dainty and lovely proportions and 

 exquisite coloration must be viewed fresh from its native waters 

 to be appreciated properly. As a food fish it is fully as good as the 

 trout, and to my taste better. Its flesh is firm and flaky, very white, 

 and of a delicate flavor, as might be expected. As a game fish it is 

 the equal of its congener, the red-tlu'oat trout, and when hooked 

 breaks water repeatedly in its efforts to escape, which the trout 

 seldom does. It takes the artificial fly eagerly, and if missed at the 

 first cast will rise again and again from the depths of the pool, whereas 

 the trout will seldom rise the second time to the same fly without 

 a rest. 



Habits. — The Montana grayling prefers swift, clear streams of pure 

 water, with gravelly or sandy bottom. It is quite gregarious, lying 

 in schools in the deeper pools, in plain sight, and not, like the trout, 

 concealed under bushes or overhanging banks. In search of food, 

 which consists principally of insects and their larvae, it occasionally 



