GENERAL DESCRIPTION. 151 



the head and body bluish black. Sides of the head, base of the 

 first dorsal, of the caudal and anal fins, with numerous rounded 

 crowded irregular light spots. On the base of the dorsal and 

 caudal, the spots are oblong light greenish; chin brownish 

 bronze ; pupils black ; irides salmon-colour. Tips of the lower 

 fins slightly tinged with red. 



" Length, 31-3; of the head, 7*3. Weight, fifteen pounds. 



" Fin-rays, D. ll'O; P. 14 ; V. 9; A. 19,; C. 21f. 



'^ This is the well-known Lake Salmon, Lake Trout, or Salmon 

 Trout of the State of New York. Among the thirteen species 

 or varieties of Lake Trout, or Lake Salmon, so beautifully illus- 

 trated by Richardson, I cannot find this species described. It 

 appears more nearly allied by the figure to Salmo Hoodii, but 

 differs in very important particulars from this species. It occurs 

 in most of the northern lakes of this State, and I have noticed 

 it in Silver Lake, Pennsylvania, adjacent to Broome County, 

 ■which, as far as I know, is its southernmost limit. The figure 

 illustrating this species was from a specimen taken at Louis 

 Lake, Hamilton County, of unusual size and vigour. The 

 average weight is eight or ten pounds ; but I have heard fisher- 

 men speak of some weighing thirty pounds, and even more. 

 There is, however, such a strong propensity to exaggeration in 

 everything in relation to aquatic animals, that I refrain from 

 citing cases derived from such sources. 



" They frequent the deepest part of the lake, and unlike most 

 of their congeners, never rise to the fly. 



" The flesh is of course much prized in those districts where 

 no oceanic fish is ever tasted ; but to me it appears to possess 

 all the coarseness of the Halibut without its flavour." 



