48 REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF FISH COMMISSIONERS. 



was given by the ancients, because the fish, when fresh, was said to 

 have the odor of water-thyme. The chief distinctive peculiarity is the 

 great development of the dorsal fin, which has more rays than are found 

 in any of the Salmonidse, and the fin is also higher, besides which it is 

 specially marked with purplish or greenish bands and bright, rose- 

 colored spots, while the body is purplish gray, with spots of black. Most 

 of the species rarely exceed a foot in length, although graylings weighing 

 five pounds have been taken in England. The American grayling 

 {Thymallus signifer) is widely distributed in British America and 

 Alaska. A similar form, called Thymallus montanus, occurs in the 

 Gallatin, Madison, and other rivers of Montana, tributary to the 

 Missouri. It is locally still abundant and one of the finest game fishes. 

 In all countries the grayling frequents clear, cold brooks and rarely if 

 ever enters the sea or even the larger lakes. It congregates in small 

 shoals in the streams and prefers those which have a succession of pools 

 and shallows, with a sandy or gravelly rather than a rocky bottom. It 

 is non-migratory in its habits, depositing its ova in the neighborhood of 

 its usual haunts. The ova are far more delicate and more easily killed 

 than those of the trout or charr. The grayling and trout inhabit the 

 same waters, but not altogether in harmony. As a food fish the grayling 

 ranks high, and is beloved by sportsmen. It is considered a gamy fish, 

 although less strong than the brook-trout and perhaps less wary. It is 

 believed that suitable waters for the introduction of this fish can be 

 found in the vicinity of Mount Shasta, perhaps in the upper reaches of 

 the McCloud River. 



LANDLOCKED SALMON. 



{Salmo sebago.) 



We are pleased to report that through the courtesy of the United 

 States Fish Commission, another shipment of landlocked salmon eggs 

 was sent to us from Greenlake, Maine. In 1895 a shipment of these 

 eggs was received, but they reached here in poor condition, and the fry 

 resulting therefrom were weaklings. However, they were planted in a 

 lake near Cisco, in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and a few hundred in 

 a small lake in the Tahoe region. A few specimens have since been 

 taken. While our first experience was not considered a pronounced 

 success, it was sufficient to establish the fact that this fish will adapt 

 itself to the cold waters of lakes in high altitudes, of which there are 

 many hundreds throughout the Sierra Nevada Mountains. In its native 

 waters it grows to immense size. In 1901, a specimen was taken in 

 Sebago Lake that weighed twenty-three pounds, but the average weight 

 is about ten pounds. 



We received 10,000 eggs, which reached us in splendid condition, and 

 about 9,600 strong, healthy fry resulted from the hatch. An additional 



