72 BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHKRIES. 



the redfish, the movements of the tommies are apt to be somewhat irregular, depending on the state 

 of the river, appearing and passing in large numbers while the water is rising and being less numerous 

 when it is low. Advance scouts of the tommies come in with the last of the redfish, while an occasional 

 lingering individual of the latter is overtaken by the advancing hordes of tommies. But on the whole 

 the two migrations are distinct, and fishes belonging to each may be distinguished with some degree 

 of certainty. The second migration usually occurs in April, being well over by May i. Individuals 

 which have not yet spawned may be found in the river during May and even later. By the latter part 

 of June, certainly by the middle of July, the lower part of the river is practically clear of large trout. 



At times many very silvery tommies appear in the lower Truckee, and again only an occasional 

 one will be seen. Silvery redfish also occiu-. These are not to be confused with the emerald trout, 

 which have not been reported from the river. 



In Pyramid and Winnemucca Lakes trout abound, and they grow to a large size. Specimens of 

 p or lo pounds are common, while sometimes examples weighing over 20 pounds are caught. Consider- 

 able variation in color is found here, especially early in the season, when breeding fishes are returning 

 from the river. An example 2 feet long, taken in Pyramid Lake May 29, in life was clear greenish olive 

 on the upper surface, this color becoming diffuse on the sides, where it gave place to silvery, strongly 

 tinged with pink, the ventral surface of the body, throat, and chin being white. The whole dorsal 

 surface when seen from the side appeared silvery with a suffusion of pink, instead of greenish olive, as 

 when viewed from above. Cheeks pinkish, the upper edge of opercle brassy. Paired fins and anal 

 tinted with orange red. Dorsal and adipose fins like the back. A red gash present on the imder man- 

 dible. Small black spots scattered rather evenly over head and body, varying in size from about a 

 third the diameter of pupil to mere specks. They were largest on the upper surface and on the caudal 

 fin. Many examples similar in color were seen. The red was never entirely absent from the throat, 

 and small, round, brassy spots were frequently found on the head and body. Large, fat examples are 

 sometimes taken, the general color of which is very pale and silvery, the spots being few and small, 

 exact counterparts of the silver trout of Lake Tahoe. Several specimens taken on the western side of 

 Pyramid Lake late in May were brilliantly colored and dark like the migrating trout. Their fins were 

 frayed, they had spawned, and it was quite apparent that they had but recently returned from the river. 

 Rarely an individual is caught which has no spots below the lateral line except on the caudal fin and only 

 a few above. Trout from Winnemucca Lake are like those from Pyramid Lake. An examination of 

 many from both localities gave the impression that those from the former were somewhat lighter in color. 



Anglers usually distinguish trouts by color and form, and in the Truckee Basin they generally 

 recognize 6 varieties; In Lake Tahoe, the Tahoe trout, dark in color, with large spots; the silver trout, 

 silvery in color, with small, elongate spots, body deep and heavy; the royal silver trout, deep blue 

 above and silvery on the sides, with few or no spots. In the lower Truckee River and the lakes, 

 the redfish, migrating from Pyramid and Winnemucca Lakes, brilliant in color, the red cheek especially 

 prominent; the tommy, a smaller and relatively large spotted fish, which appears in a separate run 

 following that of the redfish; and, finally, the greenback (emerald trout) of the lakes, green above, silvery 

 on the sides, and with very few spots. Except the royal silver and the emerald trouts, these appear 

 to be representatives of the same species, no character or set of characters having been found which 

 will serve to distinguish between any of them. The introduction of marked fingerlings of the redfish 

 into Lake Tahoe and of small Tahoe trout into Pyramid Lake might lead to interesting results. 



Questions at once arise regarding the two migrations of trout in the lower Truckee River, and it 

 may be briefly stated that nothing has been accomplished by way of explanation except negatively. 

 The redfish and tommies are found in both lakes, and the migrations appear to proceed from both at 

 about the same time. 



The following table is presented to aid in expressing the numerical variation seen in the spotting of 

 trout from different localities. Typical specimens were selected, and a line drawn along the side of 

 the body from the gill opening to the middle of the base of the caudal. This was crossed by another 

 passing vertically through the anal opening, thus separating body and tail and dividing each into an 

 upper and lower half. 



