298 The Trout s of America 



has resulted in multiplying them ; the objective 

 quarry for the skilled and the tyro in their 

 mountain outings ; and the favorite fish of the 

 old masters of the art in America, Thad Norris, 

 Seth Green, Prime, Inskeep, and others. We 

 do not and can not wonder at their choice when 

 we take this charr in hand and glance at its 

 symmetrical form a cleaver of the water 

 and the varied hues of its mellowed coloration, 

 diffused in softness of tone over its entire body, 

 with no jarring flash of color to mar its fulness 

 of beauty. 



In structure fontinalis is fitted for its wild 

 life in the tumultuous mountain brooks, fitted 

 to breast the rushing rapids, wherein it poises, 

 self-contained in body, and apparently in spirit; 

 motionless often in a ten-mile torrent, awaiting 

 the drowned or struggling insect or more sub- 

 stantial food surface-washed by a rise of water. 

 Impelled by the spawning instinct, it seeks the 

 upper waters in the last days of summer and 

 early fall ; its vigor of muscle enables it to get 

 to them, bruised and somewhat torn of fine sym- 

 metry though it be by its nuptial-seeking jour- 

 ney. It will leap over and sometimes swim up 

 the centre of three feet of water of a dam over 



