ROD & CREEL 17 



though not its equal in beauty, being: of a duller colour, poorer 

 shape and with yellow instead of pink spots. 



Its habitat is the large lakes, more particularly those in 

 the north, where it sometimes grows to enormous size; it is 

 said to have been taken over 60 Ibs. in weight, though the 

 average would not be more than 15 Ibs. 



It is caught in very deep water by trolling with a long line, 

 and heavy lead and big spoon. When hooked it plays but little 

 better than a cod. It is an excellent table fish but that is about 

 its only recommendation. 



Habits of Trout. All our trout are migratory, those on the 

 coast descending to the sea if they can, those in the lakes either 

 ascending or descending the various streams to spawn. 



The spawning time varies tremendously according to local 

 conditions, and to such an extent do conditions vary that there 

 is hardly a month in the year when you could not find trout 

 spawning somewhere or other. The main spawning seasons are 

 the winter months on the coast and May and June in the 

 interior. 



The Grayling (Thymallus signifer). The grayling some- 

 what resembles a small salmon in shape but does not belong to 

 the genus "Salmo." In this country it seldom exceeds 2 Ibs. 

 in weight. It is of a somewhat dullish hue, with a number of 

 bluish black spots on the forward part of the belly. It has an 

 enormous dorsal fin, altogether out of proportion to the rest 

 of the fish. On the other hand its mouth is small and delicate, 

 from which a hook is easily torn. As a table fish it is even 

 superior to the trout and in addition is an excellent sporting 

 fish. It takes the fly freely and, while not the equal of the 

 trout as a fighter, puts up quite a good fight, though rather 

 after the style of the ''dolly." 



This fish is only found in our northern waters. The one 

 commonly called the grayling in the south, is the River White 

 fish, something altogether different and not to be compared to 

 the true grayling. 



Bass. These fish are not native to the Province but have 

 been introduced. They have only been established in a few 

 places. Langford Lake near Victoria has afforded good sport 

 for years past, as also has Christina Lake near Grand Forks. 

 They are also found in the Okanagan River up to the falls. 



The Pike. Up to the present time the existence of pike in 

 British Columbia has been little known. There are, however, 

 reported to be a considerable number of these fish in some of 

 our northern lakes; whether this is a fact I am not at present 

 prepared to aver. There are six species of this fish, which 

 belongs to the genus Lucius, on this continent, the largest of 

 which is the Muskellunge. To what species the pike we have 



