Trout Breeding. 59 



ists, as two distinct species, as they not only differ in 

 the size and shape of the fins and the hues of the body, 

 but also in the proportional size of the head and mouth, 

 and even in the position of the eyes. As has been 

 shown, there are slight, if any, differences between the 

 sexes of our fresh water forms, except at the breeding 

 season, when they are manifested principally by color. 

 There is, however, always a difference in size, for in no 

 species with which I am familiar does the male fish ever 

 attain the extreme bulk that the aclult female does. 

 This difference is more remarkable in some species 

 than in others, but I do not hesitate to assert that it 

 exists in all. In the little "Killey," referred to above, 

 the female is twice as large as her mate, and the striped 

 bass, or Rock, is another example; all the large ones, 

 from forty to a hundred pounds, or more, are females. 

 How large the male rockfish is found I cannot say, but 

 I incline to the opinion that specimens weighing above 

 thirty pounds are rare. 



The male brook trout begins to grow a brighter red 

 on the sides as the water cools in October, in New 

 York, and as he ripens this becomes brilliant. Then, 

 if not old enough to be disfigured by a pronounced 

 hooked jaw, he is one of the most beautiful of all our 

 fresh-water fishes. If, however, he does not find a 

 mate, or is driven from her by a stronger fish, his un- 

 expended force manifests itself by another change. 

 The crimson side fades into a drab, or buff, and the 

 flat edge of the white belly is bordered with a broad 

 black line. Such a fish will yield milt at the slightest 

 touch, and it is the best of all milt, for it is dead ripe. 

 Large males, those of three or four pounds, seldom get 

 in this state, and I don't care for them as breeders. 



If I were breeding trout as a private enterprise, no 



