BIOLOGICAL I25 



along the sides. While not as beautiful as the brook 

 trout the rainbow is a handsome fish. 



HABITAT 



In his native waters the rainbow lives in swift, cold 

 water but transplanting has shown that he will thrive 

 in fairly warm, deep and " dead " water although in 

 most rivers he will show a marked preference for the 

 rapids. 



FOOD 



Like all trout the rainbow feeds on insects, larvae, 

 molluscs and small fishes although he has the reputa- 

 tion of liking fish less than other trout, with which 

 theory we do not agree. 



BREEDING AND GROWTH 



The spawning season varies a great deal with lo- 

 cality and conditions. In California the breeding sea- 

 son is said to be from February to May; in Colorado 

 from May to July; in the middle west and the east, 

 usually in February and March. Salmon-like they lay 

 their eggs in the gravel and leave them to shift for 

 themselves. 



Growth is naturally quicker where food is plentiful. 

 In certain parts of the west where feed is scarce they 

 do not exceed a fraction of a pound in weight. In the 

 Ozarks and parts of the west they have been known 

 to attain to twenty-six pounds; in mid western waters 

 they sometimes reach ten pounds which is about their 



