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THE RAINBOW TROUT. 



(Salmo irideus) 



The rainbow trout is a native of the given to them other names, as Red 



mountain streams and lakes of the Pa- Sides, Mountain Trout, Brook Trout, 



cific coast, ranging from the coast of etc. The Rainbow Trout, when taken 



Washington to San Diego, California, from clear, cool water, is an extremely 



It was first made known to science in handsome fish. It is usually bluish in 



J 855 by Dr. Gibbons from specimens the upper part of the body; sides sil- 



taken from Leander Creek, California, very; the body is everywhere cov- 



It is an extremely variable species, vary- ered with small, dark spots irregularly 



ing greatly in size, color, activity, etc. arranged, and extending on the fins. 



Those found near the sea spend much The side is usually provided with a red 



of their time in salt water, where living band which extends on the sides of the 



is easier and as a result they grow head. There. is usually a dash of red 



larger, lose their bright color and under the chin. As soon as the fish is 



much of their activity. They usually taken from the water its color changes, 



return to fresh water with the salmon The red lateral band will pass through 



to feast upon their eggs. different shades of red, from a deep 



The following are the most impor- dark color to light crimson. The cap- 



tant varieties of the Rainbow Trout: tured fish thus gives its captor a dis- 



The Brook Trout of Western Oregon, play of bright color superior to that 



which is abundant in the streams of the possessed by any other fresh water 



Coast Range from Puget Sound to fish. 



Southern California. Those taken in The Rainbow Trout is quite as hand- 



the headwaters of these streams sel- some as the Eastern Brook Trout and 



dom exceed a pound in weight, while affords the angler an equal amount of 



those taken from brackish water, hav- sport. Those found in swift mountain 



ing spent considerable time in the sea, streams are strong swimmers. To 



usually weigh from one to five pounds, capture them with the rod the angler 



The McCloud River Trout is abundant must display the highest skill possible, 



in streams of the Sierra Nevada Moun- The same tactics which will catch a 



tains from Mt Shasta southward. It Rainbow Trout in one stream may fail 



grows to a large size, reaching, in the in the next or even a second time in 



larger and warmer bodies of water, a the same stream. It matters not in 



weight of ten to fourteen pounds. This what mountain stream you fish the 



variety is the Rainbow Trout of the trout you catch are always superior to 



fish culturists. It has been planted in those you have previously taken in 



many of our eastern streams, where it other streams, 



has become more or less abundant. The food of the Rainbow Trout is 



The Kern River Trout is -known made up largely of worms, Crustacea, 

 only from the Kern River in Cali- insect larvae and the like. In the fall 

 fornia. It often reaches a weight of those in salmon streams feast on sal- 

 eight pounds. The No-Shee Trout in- mon eggs. During the spawning time 

 habits the Sacramento basin ; it often of the salmon the trout in the ocean re- 

 reaches a weight of twelve pounds, turn to fresh water and accompany the 

 The Golden Trout of Mount Whitney salmon to their spawning beds. Many 

 inhabits the streams on both sides of persons who catch them for table use 

 Mount Whitney, California. do so with hooks baited with salmon 



The varieties mentioned here are eggs. Often salmon eggs are salted 



usually recognized by students of and dried and thus retained as bait for 



fishes, but the angler sees many more the entire year. No other bait seems 



varieties in different localities, and has so tempting to the Rainbow Trout. 



