94 TKe Determined Angler 



the specimens in general are likely to be thin, narrow, 

 and of a bright gray hue, though, of course, there are 

 individual specimens in this condition of water that 

 are exceptions to the rule a few old specimens who 

 have sheltered themselves for years in dark, deep, 

 steady spots under the protruding bank of the stream, 

 or along the side of a sunken tree stump, etc. This 

 autocrat of the eddy is fat, stocky, and dark in color, 

 just the opposite of his younger relatives of the swift- 

 running part of the stream. 



The brook trout of deep, still dark-bottom ponds are 

 fatter, darker, broader, of duller color and of slower 

 motion than their brothers of the rapid waters. The 

 trout's shape, weight, size, and color are influenced by 

 its food, its age, its activity, its habitat, and its habits. 

 Its color corresponds to the color of the water bottom, 

 and will change as the water bottom changes. If re- 

 moved to a new water, where the bottom color is 

 different from the bottom color of its first abode 

 lighter or darker, as the case may be it will gradually 

 grow to a corresponding shade, blending with its new 

 habitat just as its colors suited the stones and grasses 

 and earthy materials of its native domain. 



The landlocked trout, if imprisoned in a deep, dark, 

 muddy-bottom, shaded woodland pool, will be dull in 

 color, stocky in shape, and of sluggish 'habits. The 

 trout confined to a bubbling fountain pool, with a 

 bottom of golden sand, at the foot of a waterfall, in 

 the full glare of the sun, will be of albino character. 



Perhaps no other fish offers specimens of its own 

 kind so deeply in contrast as fontinalis. This is 

 scientifically and interestingly illustrated in many 

 ways color, size, shape, form, action, environment, 

 etc. For example, consider the big, fat, long, strong, 



