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THE RAINBOW TROUT. 



{Sal mo iricit'us) 



The rainbow trout is a native- of the 

 mountain- streams and lakes of the Pa- 

 cific coast, ranging from the coast of 

 Washingtoivto San Diego, California. 

 It was first made known to science in 

 1855 by Dr. Gibbons from specimens 

 taken from Leander Creek, California. 

 Itisanextremelyvariable species, vary- 

 ing greatly in size, color, activity, etc. 

 Those found near the sea spend much 

 of their time in salt water, where living 

 is easier and as a result they grow 

 larger, lose their bright color and 

 much of their activity. They usually 

 return to fresh water with the salmon 

 to feast upon their eggs. 



The following are the most impor- 

 tant varieties of the Rainbow Trout : 

 The Brook Trout of Western Oregon, 

 which is abundant in the streams of the 

 Coast Range from Puget Sound to 

 Southern California. Those taken in 

 the headwaters of these streams sel- 

 dom exceed a pound in weight, while 

 those taken from brackish water, hav- 

 ing spent considerable time in the sea, 

 usually weigh from one to five pounds. 

 The McCloud River Trout is abundant 

 in streams of the Sierra Nevada Moun- 

 tains from Mt. Shasta southward. It 

 grows to a large size, reaching, in the 

 larger and warmer bodies of water, a 

 weight of ten to fourteen pounds. This 

 variety is the Rainbow Trout of the 

 fish culturists. It has been planted in 

 many of our eastern streams, where it 

 has become more or less abundant. 



The Kern River Trout is known 

 only from the Kern River in Cali- 

 fornia. It often reaches a weight of 

 eight pounds. The No-Shee Trout in- 

 habits the Sacramento basin ; it often 

 reaches a weight of twelve pounds. 

 The Golden Trout of Mount Whitney 

 inhabits the streams on both sides of 

 Mount Whitney, California. 



The varieties mentioned here are 

 usually recognized by students of 

 fishes, but the angler sees many more 

 varieties in different localities, and has 



given to them other names, as Red 

 Sides, Mountain Trout, Brook Trout, 

 etc. The Rainbow Trout, when taken 

 from clear, cool water, is an extremely 

 handsome fish. It is usually bluish in 

 the upper part of the body ; sides sil- 

 very; the body is everywhere cov- 

 ered with small, dark spots irregularly 

 arranged, and extending on the fins. 

 The side is usually provided with a red 

 band which extends on the sides of the 

 head. There is usually a dash of red 

 under the chin. As soon as the fish is 

 taken from the water its color changes. 

 The red lateral band will pass through 

 different shades of red, from a deep 

 dark color to light crimson. The cap- 

 tured fish thus gives its captor a dis- 

 play of bright color superior to that 

 possessed by any other fresh water 

 fish. 



The Rainbow Trout is quite as hand- 

 some as the Eastern Brook Trout and 

 affords the angler an equal amount of 

 sport. Those found in swift mountain 

 streams are strong swimmers. To 

 capture them with the rod the angler 

 must display the highest skill possible. 

 The same tactics which will catch a 

 Rainbow Trout in one stream may fail 

 in the next or even a second time in 

 the same stream. It matters not in 

 what mountain stream you fish the 

 trout you catch are always superior to 

 those you have previously taken in 

 other streams. 



The food of the Rainbow Trout is 

 made up largely of worms, Crustacea, 

 insect larvae and the like. In the fall 

 those in salmon streams feast on sal- 

 mon eggs. During the spawning time 

 of the salmon the trout in the ocean re- 

 turn to fresh water and accompany the 

 salmon to their spawning beds. Many 

 persons who catch them for table use 

 do so Avith hooks baited with salmon 

 eggs. Often salmon eggs are salted 

 and dried and thus retained as bait for 

 the entire year. No other bait seems 

 so tempting to the Rainbow Trout. 



