CASTS AT RANDOM 163 



I have taken brook trout on bait standing in snow up 

 to my knees; also in the worst of a heavy snowstorm. 

 Under the same conditions trout have been taken on 

 flies. Brook trout in October or November are found 

 at the headwaters of streams and up the small tributary 

 brooks where they resort during the spawning season. 

 After the spawning season and during the winter 

 months there must be a general drifting back to the 

 main stream, and in the main stream a movement down- 

 stream to the usually deeper waters below. 



The brook trout migrations mentioned by the natu- 

 ralists, that is, a general movement up-stream prior to the 

 spawning season, followed by a retreat to lower waters 

 thereafter, are, however, not to be taken too literally; 

 it should not be understood that at any time either the 

 upper or lower reaches of the stream are entirely trout 

 deserted. As in the summer, trout may be found about 

 the spring-holes, so also in winter they are found there. 

 In the summer they seek the vicinity of the spring-holes 

 because there the water is cooler, but in winter because, 

 rather curiously, it is then the warmer. Spring water is 

 slow to freeze. The usual winter habitat of the brook 

 trout is in the deeper holes and long, deep reaches of 

 still-water. 



Formerly there was considerable controversy about 

 the so-called hibernating of the black bass during the 

 winter months, but it is now definitely known that, 

 when the streams and lakes are frozen, the bass do, 

 indeed, hibernate in much the same manner as certain 

 fur-bearers. Hibernation, however, does not imply 

 complete cessation of the forces of life but merely a 



