432 Reminiscences of 



backs and tails with prodigal profusion. Ornamented 

 in their highest colors, they present a most fascinating 

 sight; now swimming along in pairs at a slow pace, 

 then whirling in great eddies, then ploughing across 

 reaches with speed and streaming wakes. 



With cautious steps they can be approached to 

 within lo or 15 ft. and most closely observed, and if 

 disturbed and driven away to deep water will speedily 

 return. 



I have never in many seasons seen the beds below 

 the Upper Dam more fully occupied by large trout than 

 in late years. Many believe the trout to be less plenti- 

 ful than before, and prophesy that in a few years trout- 

 fishing at the lakes will be a feature of the past, but I 

 do not agree with either opinion, and my annual ex- 

 periences extend over forty seasons. 



Althovigh many trout come in at known fishing places 

 they bear but a small proportion to those in the lakes. 

 They are well distributed, and the favored fishing local- 

 ities but few. Probably nine tenths of the trout have 

 their spawning beds in retired places, in comparatively 

 still water and entirely unknown to the average visitor. 



I think next to man the blue heron {Ardea herodias) 

 is the greatest destroyer of trout at these lakes. This 

 bird is an incessant nocturnal as well as daily feeder, and 

 of inordinate appetite, and although its principal food 

 is chubs and frogs it destroys a great many trout and 

 will get away with ^-pounders, if not larger. They will 

 have no hesitancy in striking and fatall}'^ wounding 

 trout of over ilb. in weight. Yearly I see trout swim- 

 ming about which have been struck and pierced by this 

 bird ; lately I caught two which were unfit for food, each 

 over I lb. in weight, having holes in the back nearly 



