BIG TROUT OF THE NEPIGON 



which existed in the mother country, notwithstanding 

 some external differences, such, for instance, as those 

 in the coloration of the spots. 



The fact that this charming so-called trout of Amer- 

 ican waters is not a true Salmo, but a char, need not, 

 it has well been said, occasion any sorrow to the angler 

 or to the lover of the attractive fish, since all the mem- 

 bers of this group of salmonoids are noted not only 

 for their beauty and grace, but also for their game 

 qualities; and an eminent ichthyologist has declared 

 that " no higher praise can be given to a salmonoid 

 than to call it a char." 



Whatever disappointment may be caused the Amer- 

 ican disciple of the gentle Isaak, by the knowledge that 

 the trout of the "Complete Angler" is a different fish 

 ivomfontinab's, it must not be forgotten that Walton 

 pays quite a compliment to the char, testifying to its 

 " high esteem with persons of great note." The dear 

 old Master Angler was wrong in his supposition that 

 this special Salvelinus was only to be found in Lake 

 Windermere, for it is now known to exist in many of 

 the other lakes of the British Isles, and the same vari- 

 ety is said to have been recognized in some of the 

 waters of continental Europe. Though an exceedingly 

 handsome fish, like our own fontinalis^ Walton's char 

 neither attains to the size of its close congener of the 

 New World, nor yet affords as good sport to the 

 angler ; only rarely taking the fly, and being usually 

 caught by trolling with a minnow, on a long line, sunk 

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