REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF FISH COMMISSIONERS 101 



trout {Salmo gilberti), occurring only in Kern Kiver and possibly in 

 the Lower portions of some of its larger tributaries. The type locality 

 is Kern River at Soda Springs. This is the species from which it is 

 believed all the other native trout of the Kern basin have descended. 

 2 The Soda < 'reek trout, native to Soda Creek, Wet Meadow Creek, 

 Little Kern River, Coyote Creek, and possibly other small western 

 tributaries of Kern River, and introduced from Soda Creek into the 

 headwaters of the South Fork of the Kaweah a1 South Fork Meadows, 

 and elsewhere. (3) The South Fork of Kern Golden trout (Salmo 

 agua-bonita . described originally from Cottonwood ('reek, into which 

 it bad been introduced, but native only to the South Fork- of the Kern 

 and its tributaries. 1 The Golden trout of Volcano Creek. This is 

 the real "Golden trout" and is native only to the one stream — Vol- 

 cano ( !reek. 



Comparing the trout from these various streams the following state- 

 ments appear to be justified ; 



I The Kern River trout is profusely and closely spotted over 

 the entire body, head, and on all the fins, and the belly is not richly 

 colored. 



(2) Tin- Soda ('reek trout has numerous Mack spots on head, hack, 

 and entire Length of side both above and below lateral line, bu1 the 

 pectorals, ventrals, and anal are without spots, and the belly is rich 

 orange in color. 



(3) The South Fork' of Kern Golden trout is sparsely spotted on 

 caudal peduncle, along side only above Lateral Line, and on top of 

 head. There are no spots below the lateral line. The belly is rich 

 orange. 



1 The Golden trout of Volcano Creek is entirely without spots, 

 except on the caudal peduncle and occasionally a few above the 

 lateral line posterior to the dorsal fin. The belly is a very rich cad- 

 mi inn. 



The different species may be described in detail as follows: 



Salmo gilberti < Jordan i. Kern River Trout; Gilbert Trout. 



Head 4 in length to base of caudal: depth 3.6; eye 5 in head; snout 

 •4.3 ; maxillary 1.16 ; mandible 1.3 ; preorbital 20 ; scales small, about 

 165 in lateral line; dorsal fin with 14 rays: anal 12. Body stout, 

 moderately compressed, deepest slightly in front of dorsal; head 

 long, conic, snout pointed; mouth large, maxillary long and narrow, 

 reaching more than an eye's diameter beyond the eye; mandible 

 slightly curved ; teeth on lower jaw rather strong, wide-set, in a 

 single series, those on maxillary strongest ; caudal peduncle stout, its 

 least depth equal to snout and eye. Fins all well developed: origin 



