THE GOLDEN TROUT. 



W. T. THOMPSO^T. 



I wish to state right in the beginning that it is not my inten 

 tion to present to the society a complete study of the golden 

 trout, but rather a slight sketch of one of the least known but 

 most beautiful of Xew England's fishes. I had almost said ''New 

 England's indigenous fishes," but on this point tliere is still a 

 difference of opinion. Should we make bold to claim this dis- 

 tinction, such claim would be promptly challenged by a consid- 

 erable body of ichthyologists, headed by Mr. Samuel Garman of 

 the Museum of Comparative Zoology, who claim it to be a de- 

 scendant of the German saibling, though they fail to enlighten 

 us as to when, and how, it was transplanted into our waters. On 

 the other hand, an equally distinguished body of scientists, in- 

 cluding such eminent authorities as Drs. Jordan, Bean, and 

 Quackenbos, while admitting its resemblance to the European 

 fonn, claim that it is strictly of American origin, and not a 

 naturalized production. 



Its natural range is extremely limited. A few waters in 

 Maine in addition to Danhole Pond and Sunapee Lake in New 

 Hampshire, would comprise about all the waters whei'e it has 

 been found. It is probable that it is best known, however, as 

 an inhabitant of Sunapee Lake. Eumors reach us occasionalh' 

 that the Dominion waters contain examples of this rare trout, 

 but up to the present time this claim has not been substantiated, 

 the so-called golden trout, though somewhat similar in appear- 

 ance and habit, proving to be the Canadian red trout. 



Without some reference to the picturesque and beautiful de- 

 scription of their most ardent champion, Dr. Quackenbos, any 

 paper on the golden trout would be as distinctly lacking in flavor 

 as a Woods Hole meeting of this Society without a Rhode Island 

 clam bake, or as that good old clam l)ake witliout tlio jovial and 

 humorous president of the Wisconsin Fish Commission to voice 

 our appreciation of the feast in his own characteristic manner. 



But to return to my description : "Througlioiit the spring 

 and summer the back is dark sea-green blending on the sides 



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