Steelbead Trout 241 



intergradation of the two species, considered one 

 and the same fish ; but the investigations of Dr. 

 Gilbert in the Lower Columbia River convinced 

 him that both the young and the old steelheads 

 are distinct from the cut-throats and the rainbows. 

 It is proper to state, however, that two other ich- 

 thyologists have placed on record that the Colum- 

 bia River form of the typical steelhead seems to 

 pass into the rainbow southward, and into Kam- 

 loops northward, while in the Lower Snake River 

 of Idaho it appears to intergrade with the cut- 

 throats. With these confusing data before them, 

 we are not surprised at the hesitation of the 

 scientist to permanently determine the classifica- 

 tion of these fishes, nor at the angling layman 

 halting at the cross-roads of science. 



The steelhead trout has scales relatively large, 

 near the size of those on the Utah Lake trout, but 

 on specimens taken from the Lower Columbia 

 the scales seem to be more or less small and 

 crowded. The body is relatively stout, but not 

 deep, and the fleshy part of the tail is very thick ; 

 the head is short, rather slender and smaller in 

 females, while the jaws in the males are some- 

 what prolonged. The upper jaw is narrow, the 

 small eye of the fish being located above and 



