64 REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF FISH COMMISSIONERS. 



the several dozen trout caught that evening for supper were taken out with the hook 

 with the display of very little more gaminess than would be noticed in so many Horned 

 Pout. On the contrary, in the clear, rapid current of the mountain stream, a Hash of 

 sunlight is scarcely quicker than the gleam of gold and silver seen for a single 

 instant as the whirling waters are cut by one of these trout, as he makes a rush from 

 his lurking place for some chance morsel which is being borne past him. The western 

 trout are rarely as shy as their relatives of Eastern waters, and because of their numbers 

 and the consequent scarcity of food, are apt to be less fastidious; yet even when most 

 abundant, due caution must be used if one would be successful, and not every one can 

 catch troiit, even in the West. With the proper care in concealing one's self, a pool may 

 be almost decimated ere the alarm will be taken, and I have seen fifteen fair-sized trout 

 taken from a single small pool in quick succession. 



During the present year other specimens have been sent to the museum 

 of the Leland Stanford, Junior, University, but in such very bad condi- 

 tion that nothing could be made of them, except that they were evidently 

 small scaled trout of the niykiss type, and nearest to the sub-species 

 pleuriticus of the Colorado River, and not in any way related to the 

 Rainbow trout, which inhabits most of the streams of the basin of 

 California. 



In a pamphlet entitled " Whitney Photo-Campers," written by Mr. W. 

 E. Houghton, of Bakersfield, California, and bearing the following title: 

 " Whitney Photo-Campers, Bakersfield to Mt. Whitney and Return, July 

 30 to August 23, 1889: An Abstract of General Results, with some Details 

 of the Beauties and Marvels of Kern River," I find the following refer- 

 ences to the Golden trout, and the streams in which it occurs: 



Camp Beautiful was made that day on Whitney Creek, near the Natural Bridges, at 

 2 p. M. The whole current of Whitney Creek foams under those bridges of lava. It is 

 from here, and for only a distance of three hundred yards in length, namely, from Agua 

 Bonita Falls to the Chute, that the only Golden trout in the United States can be caught. 

 The deeper the pool the darker the fish in color, but all, as drawn from the water, have a 

 genuine golden sheen. Whoever makes the journey below these falls deserves a prize, 

 for it is a most difficult undertaking; but while he will be fully repaid with one Golden 

 trout, a loaded basket will be his reward. 



This whole country is distinctly volcanic. At the Divide there is a small mountain, 

 whose surface is as red as ordinary brick. From this Red Mountain — as locally named — 

 a stream of lava at some time Howed directly in the course of Whitney Creek as far as 

 Kern River. At different points the trail passes over this irregular bed, while there are 

 large piles of it on either side. In places the stream and the elements have washed the 

 earth away, leaving perpendicular masses of lava, just as when it was in a molten state. 

 Occasionally there will be a cave. Natural Bridge Creek forms from seven springs, all 

 within a radius of one hundred yards, and not more than two hundred yards above the 

 bridges. At the point where the waters all join just above the bridges, they form a 

 good-sized trout stream, which precipitates itself over the rocks and down its steep bed, 

 a mass of foam until it reaches Whitney Creek. One bridge is about fifteen feet wide, 

 the other at least thirty. From the surface of the water, is on the upper side about ten 

 and on the lower side forty feet. In every direction from the bridges are views of 

 grandeur and beauty. Looking east is a beautiful little meadow with springs of water 

 H owing into it from almost every direction. To the left, almost touching the trail, one 

 spring sends a volume of water out of the side of a bare mountain, which equals the 

 flow of the largest artesian well in the valley. To the south rises a timbered slope 

 covered with pines, manzanitas, and cedars. Northward is the stream of lava, just 

 across AVhitney Creek, and back of it a perpendicular cliff towering at least a thousand 

 feet above the spectator. But the grandest view of all is toward the west. Whitney 

 Creek takes a leap into space. It must be at least 2,000 feet above Kern River, which the 

 creek rushes down to meet in less than a mile. One looks down and down to fathom the 

 end of the headlong career, to see boiling foam with occasional lines of soft, hazy blue 

 between cliffs of enormous proportions. And at the end, across the canon of Kern River, 

 there rises a snow-capped giant 14,000 feet in height, which bars the rushing waters and 

 baffles the vision. Besides numerous cascades, there are in this short distance three 

 waterfalls, the largest perhaps 125 feet in height. 



A graphic story of Golden trout is told by the Captain of the Pilgrims: " You can only 

 get below this fall at one point, and that "by an extremely hazardous route, only possi- 

 ble by aid of the tirmly-rooted and stout bushes. Down this cliff I went with many a 

 choky feeling, for if a bush was to give way, then good-bye all. Once at the bottom, 

 right amid tlie spray of the falls, I lost all interest in the scenery and bother about 

 brush, and fell to hook and line as quickly as possible. Down in the beautiful deep 

 pool below me in an instant I hooked a ten-inch (Golden trout, to be followed by another 

 and another, and as many as I wanted, in rapid succession. The stream of ages has 



