McCloud River Rainbow Trout 



2, 1853, and am indebted for it to the skill of Capt. Geo. B. 

 McClellan, as he took it with the artificial fly at a time when 

 they did not readily bite at any bait." 



McCloud River Rainbow Trout 



Salmo shasta (Jordan) 



The home of this fine trout is in the streams of the Sierra 

 Nevadas from Mount Shasta southward, the limits of its range 

 not well known. It is best known from the McCloud River 

 where it has been handled for many years in the fish-cultural 

 operations of the United States Fish Commission, this being, in 

 fact, the "rainbow trout" of fish-culturists. 



Through the operations of the United States Fish Commis- 

 sion this trout has had its range greatly extended. It has been 

 successfully transplanted into many mountain streams in different 

 parts of the United States where it was not previously found, 

 where it grows and multiplies rapidly, as is shown by the many 

 favourable reports. The best results, however, seem to have been 

 obtained from the plants made in Michigan, Missouri, Arkansas, 

 throughout the Alleghany Mountain region, and in Colorado and 

 Nevada. It was introduced into eastern waters in 1880. It is 

 believed this species will serve for stocking streams formerly in- 

 habited by the eastern brook trout in which the latter no longer 

 thrives owing to the clearing of the lands about the sources of 

 the streams, which has brought about changed conditions un- 

 favourable to the eastern brook trout. The rainbow is adapted 

 to warmer and deeper waters, and is therefore suited to many 

 of the now depleted streams which flow from the mountains 

 through cultivated valleys. 



Rainbow trout differ widely from brook trout and other pug- 

 nacious fishes in that they feed largely upon worms, larvae, 

 crustaceans, and the like, and do not take so readily to minnows 

 for food. They should be planted in spring or early summer 

 when their natural food is abundant. They will then grow more 

 rapidly and become accustomed to life in the stream, and when 

 worms,, larvae, etc., are no longer to be found, their experience 

 and size will enable them to take anything in the shape of food 

 that may present itself. Fish hatched in December and January 

 can be safely planted in April or May. 



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