SALMONID.E. 21 



Singularly enough, at the very time that my opinion was becoming 

 changed with regard to this — I now think erailcat fish, I received a 

 long and most kind letter from the accomplished fisherman to whom I 

 had applied for information in regard to Hamilton county fishing, dif- 

 fering from the opinion given in the bulk of this volume, which I had 

 jufct before discovered to be faulty. 



I have no hesitation in laying this verbatim before my readers, as I 

 have no doubt it is thoroughly correct in all respects, both as to the 

 habits and quality of tlie Hamilton county Lake Trout, with which I 

 am satisfied that the Lako Seneca variety is identical ; the variation 

 in the habits of the fish in the different localities being ascribablo to 

 the different qualities of the water which they inhabit. 



The average wiight of the Lake Trout in Seneca Lake is much as 

 is stated by my kind correspondent — that is to say, under /bz//- pounds, 

 and they very rarely exceed seven. 



This letter was written at my request, for the purpose of pointing 

 out, commenting upon, and correcting any errors of omission or com- 

 mission which he had discovered in my work ; and I can only express 

 myself equally obliged by the candor and kindness of the criticism. 



Had I permission to give the name of the writer, I am well aware 

 that in every angler's opinion it would add immensely to the value of 

 his remarks as authority ; but it will suffice that I should assert that 

 he is, of my own knowledge, one of the best fly-fishers in the United 

 States. 



OFJGIN'AL COM.ML^'IC.VTION ON THE LAKE TROUT. 



" The average weight is eight or ten pounds." 



This is an extract from the New York Fauna of Dr. DeKay. Now, 

 I venture to assert that Dr. DeKay never wet a line in the waters of 

 Hamilton county, and that " the propensity to exaggeration in every- 

 thing in relation to aquatic animals," induced his informant to make 

 the above statement. I boldlj- assert that the average weight of Lake 

 Trout is not four pounds. 



An eight or ten pound fish is considered an unusually heavy fish. ] 

 will give you my experience. In May, 1848, I spent eleven days in 

 Hamilton count\-, in company with a friend, and that friend an old 

 Hamilton county troUer. We faithfully fished in Lake Pleasant, 



