CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME 



125 



very beautiful contrasting black and yellow bands on their dorsal 

 surfaces. 



Over 55 per cent of the total foods eaten by these rainbow trout 

 from the Merced River were aquatic in origin and about 45 per cent 

 terrestrial. 



In Table 3 below are listed the foods eaten by eight Loch Leven 

 and four rainbow trout from another quite different type of stream. 

 These trout were taken from spring runs tributary to Hot Creek in 

 Mono County. Three springs supply a large volume of water of even 

 temperature the year round. Little run-off and no flood waters ever 

 disturb the stream bed thus offering fairly stable environmental con- 

 ditions to aquatics. As a result watercress and other aquatic plants 

 have grown up in the runs in enormous abundance. 



Pig. 35. Fresh-water shrimp, Gammarus. Common at Hot Creek, 

 Mono County. Two times natural size. 



Table 3.— Foods Consumed by Eight Loch Leven and Four Rainbow 

 Trout from Hot Creek, Mono County* 



Number found Pej- cent 

 Class of food in 1~ stomachs of total 



Snails and small clams ^92 '«■?,• Ijd 



Shrimp ^35 3o.3.i 



Oaddis-flies ^'6 ^■^.'^ 



Damsel fly nymphs 1^ '^■■^'' 



Miscellaneous ■* •'^' 



Totals 705 



* Fish taken November 15, 1933. Average length, 9.74 inches; maximum, 12.1 

 in., minimum, 8.4 in. 



Here it is seen that snails and small clams ranked first forming 

 55.6 per cent while shrimp were second forming 33.33 per cent of the 

 total numbers of organisms eaten. Bottom collections from the spring 



