FISHES OF NEW YORK 261 



operations, and the fish is now fairly well known in the United 

 States, though mixed to some extent with the brown trout, as 

 remarked above. 



The Loch Leven trout has been recorded of the weight of 18 

 pounds, but the average weight at 6 years of age is about 7 

 pounds, though some individuals of that age may reach 10 

 pounds. The natural food of this species includes fresh-water 

 mollusks (snails, B u c c i n u m , etc.), crustaceans, worms and 

 small fish. In captivity it is reared on liver, horse flesh, chopped 

 clams and various other meats. 



As a food fish the Loch Leven is highly esteemed on account 

 of the red color and the delicate flavor of its flesh when obtained 

 from suitable waters; in some localities the flesh often becomes 

 white from lack of food or improper food. 



The spawning season may begin late in September or early 

 in October and continue till December. In Michigan it corre- 

 sponds with that of the brook trout. The egg varies from about 

 ^ to I inch in diameter. A trout weighing 2 pounds contained 

 1944 eggs, the weight of which was ^ pound. 



The Loch Leven will take the artificial fly as readily as the 

 brown trout and the brook trout. Its great size and strength 

 add to its attractions for the angler. 



137 Salmo irideus Gibbons 



Rainbow Trout (Introduced) 



^almo irideus Gibbons, Proc. Gal. Ac. Nat. Sci. 36, 1855, San Leandro 



Creek, Alameda Gounty, Cal.; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. 



Mus. 312, in part, 1883; Bean, Bull. U. S. F. G. XII, 36, pi. V, figs. 



2 & 3, 1894; Fishes Penna. 77, color pi. V, 1898; Ann. Kept. N. Y. 



Comm. F'ish.; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. pi. 



LXXXI, fig. 216, 1900. 

 Salmo irideus Shasta Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 502, 



1896. 



Body short and deep, its greatest depth equaling two sevenths 

 of the total length without caudal. The least depth of caudal 

 peduncle equals one half the length of head. The head is short 

 and deep; its length is contained about four and two thirds 

 times in the total length without the caudal, The snout is short, 



