WHAT IS A SEA TROUT 353 



said he did not believe in this hybrid theory, but 

 that it was probably a distinct species and asked 

 me to send him some specimens for identification. 

 For various reasons I could not do this before 

 July, 1883. During that month while fishing for 

 salmon in the " Upper Pool" of the Godbout 

 river, I caught several of these so-called salmon 

 or sea trout, and selecting one of each kind, river 

 and sea trout, sent them both, preserved in alco- 

 hol, to Dr. Merriam, who forwarded them to the 

 Smithsonian Institution, and here is the reply he 

 got: 



UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



UNDER DIRECTION OF 

 THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 



WASHINGTON, OCT. 17, 1884. 

 DEAR DOCTOR : 



The two trout which you sent to the Museum 

 from the mouth of the St. Lawrence River, repre- 

 sent two very distinct species. The one with 

 dark coloration, without evident red spots, and 

 with a narrow band of hyoid teeth, is salvelinus 

 oquassa. The other with very distinct red spota 

 and without hyoid teeth is S. fontinalis. 



If you desire any further information about 

 these species I shall be glad to furnish it. 



Very respectfully yours, 



T. H. BEAN, 



Curator, Dept. of Fishes. 



