THE OUANANICHE AND THE SEA TROUT 35 



rivers only in the summer to spawn ; the habitat of 

 the ouananiche is naturally in fresh water, and the 

 only differences between the two are those resulting 

 from the difference in habits. 



When first taken from the water the ouananiche 

 has a beautiful peacock-blue cast of color, which dis- 

 appears at death, changing to the light -gray back and 

 sides and silvery belly of the salmon. A number of 

 black spots are found on the gill covers, and the St. 

 Andrew's cross markings on the upper part of the 

 body are numerous. 



Pound for pound, the ouananiche can greatly out- 

 fight the salmon, and none of the fresh-water fish can 

 equal it in this respect. The black bass approaches 

 it the nearest, but never equals it. A good lusty 3- 

 or 4-pound fish requires fully ten minutes or more to 

 be tired out and killed, and he is a fortunate fisher- 

 man, indeed, who does not lose nearly as many as he 

 saves. Their leaps from the water are not only con- 

 stant, but something wonderful in height, and will 

 average eight or ten in number before they are 

 brought to net. 



The ouananiche possesses particularly large fins 

 and tail, which increase materially its fighting and 

 jumping powers, and especially enable it to inhabit 

 the rough, swift-flowing waters, where it is found. 

 There is never any difficulty in distinguishing it when 



