58 FISHERMAN'S LURES 



dant, the stomach contents are most often bottom 

 creepers; now and then may be found a minnow, 

 or at early season flood times we find various 

 worms. 



Scientists have made tests on the rate of growth 

 of aquarium specimens on different diets for trout. 

 The result is interesting and quite natural. Trout 

 grow four times as fast on insect and creeper diet 

 as they do on fish diet. Fish food is twice as 

 effective as a diet of worms. When insects become 

 scarce, from the end of June to the end of August, 

 trout turn their attention to a diet of fish, grass- 

 hoppers, crickets, caterpillars, and the creepers 

 which are about to emerge for the late autumn 

 flight when the temperature is more normal. We 

 find in September and October insects again be- 

 come abundant, though not so thick as the spring 

 rise, but sufficient to attract trout, and induce 

 them to feed on insects exclusively till severe cold 

 sets in. Therefore it is apparent that minnow 

 baits, live or artificial, are most effective and best 

 to use, all through the season except the insect 

 glut late in May and early in June. These con- 

 ditions refer more especially to waters of the East- 

 ern seaboard of the temperate zone, from the 

 Delaware to the St. Lawrence, including Maine, 



