230 The Trouts of America 



sides. The subspecific name seems to be a mis- 

 nomer, as the mouth of the fish is small, not large, 

 as indicated in the Greek word. We know but 

 little of this fish, its game qualities not having 

 been described, nor does it appear that Wai tom- 

 ans seek for it or take any interest in its habits 

 or fighting qualities. Dr. Jordan, however, who 

 made a study of the habits of stomias, writes : 



" It seldom exceeds three-quarters of a pound 

 in weight, and is very common in the upper tribu- 

 taries of the Arkansas River, and in Twin Lakes. 

 It spawns in spring, in snow water if possible, and 

 it will leave spring water to find snow water. In 

 winter, however, they seek for warmer waters. It 

 is said that when the winter breaks up, these trout 

 are too blind to see bait. In color, the greenback 

 is green or even almost black on the back. The 

 lower fins and the throat are bright red, but there 

 is not much trace of the red lateral band, and in 

 some cases the black spots are ocellated with 

 paler. At spawning time, in May and early June, 

 the males have much red, but later on the sexes 

 become similar. In specimens found about pools 

 there is often much red even in summer." 



The yellow-fin trout (Salmo clarkii macdonaldi] 

 is supposed to be a varietal form of the Colorado 



