Silver Trout of Lake Tahoe 



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Silver Trout of Lake Tahoe 



Salmo tahoensis Jordan & Evermann 



In the deep waters of Lake Tahoe is found a trout of im- 

 mense size, known to the anglers who are familiar with that 

 lake as the silver trout. So far as known this trout is never 

 seen in the shallow water, but remains at considerable depths, 

 and spawns in the lake itself. It is a large, robust fish, profusely 

 spotted, the spots often oblong, and the general colouration more 

 silvery than in the ordinary Tahoe trout. An example, the type 

 of the species, 2 feet 4 inches long, and weighing 7^ pounds, 

 caught by Mr. A. J. Bayley, presented the following characters. 



Head 4 T V; depth jj-f; eye yf; D. 9; A. 12; Br. 10; scales 33- 

 205-40, 140 pores; P. if; maxillary if. Body very robust, com- 

 pressed, unusually deep for a trout, the outline elliptical; head 

 large; eye small, silvery; mouth large, maxillary reaching well 

 beyond the eye; scales small, reduced above and below; caudal fin 

 slightly lunate, almost truncate when spread. Colour, dark green 

 above; belly silvery; side with a broad, coppery shade covering 

 cheek and opercles; sides of lower jaw yellowish; fins olivaceous, 

 a little reddish below; orange dashes between rami of lower jaw 

 moderately conspicuous; back, from tip of snout to tail, closely 

 covered with large, unequal black spots, those on nape and top 

 of head round; posteriorly the spots run together, forming vari- 

 ously shaped markings, usually vertically oblong, which may be 

 regarded as formed of 3 or 4 spots placed in a series, or with 

 i or 2 at the side of the other, the longest of these oblong 

 markings being not quite as long as the eye; spots on side of 

 head and body very sparse, those on head round, those behind 

 vertically oblong; belly profusely covered with small black spots 

 which are nearly round; still smaller round spots numerous on 

 lower jaw; spots on caudal peduncle vertically oblong or curved; 

 dorsal and caudal densely covered with oblong spots, smaller 

 than those on body; anal with rather numerous round spots; 

 pectorals and ventrals with a few small spots, the first ray^ of 

 each with a series of small, faint spots; adipose fin spotted. 



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