BIOLOGICAL 117 



tions, ranking as game fishes about the same as the rock 

 bass. One also hooks pike, pickerel and pike-perch 

 when fly fishing for bass. 



THE BROOK TROUT 

 (Salvelinus fontinalis) 



HISTORICAL 



To every angler living east of the Rockies the word 

 " trout " signifies the eastern brook trout the little 

 charr of the fountains. This is the trout of song and 

 story so far as America is concerned and he deserves 

 all the praise and admiration he has received. 



The first settlers of New England were quick to dis- 

 cover the " troute " in the brooks but the scientific his- 

 tory of the fish is disappointing. Dr. Bethune, writing 

 in 1847, said: "The history of the trout and salmon 

 is as yet very obscure, especially in this country. Dr. 

 De Kay describes but three species of salmon and two 

 of trout." Even to this day there is disagreement as 

 to the exact scientific status of certain species and sub- 

 species. This confusion is not surprising to any one 

 acquainted with the variations met with in the salmon 

 family. 



RANGE 



"The Manual of Fish Culture" of the United 

 States Department of Fisheries says: "The natural 

 range of the brook trout in the United States is from 

 Maine to Georgia and westward through the Great 



