184 DIVISION I. VERTEBRAL ANIMALS.— CLASS IV. PISCES. 
lake trout are seldom red, but dark and indistinct, according to their size. 
The last-mentioned lake is one of the few in which the fish are taken by the 
usual method of angling, for which they are more esteemed, as affording 
good sport, than for their flavor ; and the common impression is, that these 
fish sprung from salmon, but that, having been prevented by obstruc- 
tions in the river from entering the sea, they have become, by confinement, 
degenerated in size and quality, retaining only the color of the flesh. In 
the interior lakes of New York, and in the great lakes of the West, the 
trout grows to a vast size; but these lake trout, being coarse fish, and taken 
without skill, in the winter only, are held in no estimation by the scientific 
aneler. River or brook trout are common in the New England States ; but, 
much to the annoyance of the angler, they perceptibly diminish in propor- 
tion to the increase of mills and manufactories upon the various streams. 
The size of this class of trout, and the color of the skin and spots, are 
much alike in all, excepting that some are of a more silvery hue than others ; 
and the color of the flesh varies, perhaps, as it has been observed, according 
to their different food, being sometimes perfectly white, sometimes of a yel- 
low tinge, but generally pink. There are also trout in various small ponds, 
both natural and artificial, those taken from the latter being in all respects 
similar to the brook or river trout. This is to be understood of ponds in the 
interior, as there are many artificial ponds, situated near the sea-coast, at 
the head of inlets from the sea and tide water, where the fish are very little 
inferior in size and quality to those which are taken where the tide ebbs and 
flows. Of the three classes of trout referred to, there is none so much 
esteemed as the sea trout, which may be called migratory, in distinction 
from those which have no access to the salt-water. In the early spring 
months, they are taken in great abundance in the various salt rivers, creeks, 
and tide waters upon the shores of New England and Long Island, but 
more particularly in the waters of Cape Cod, where the celebrated Waqucit 
Bay, with other neighboring waters, has long been the favorite resort of the 
scientific fisherman. As the season advances, these fish repair to fresh 
water, at which time, as well as earlier, they afford great diversion to the 
angler, by whom they are highly prized, not merely for their superiority of 
form, color, and delicious flavor, but for the voracity with which they seize 
the bait of the artificial fly, and their activity upon the hook. In the United 
States, as well as in Great Britain, this fish is the great object of the 
angler’s art, the perfection of which is the use of the artificial fly. 
S. Fontinalis. —The Common Brook Trout. I do not feel it necessary 
to describe this beautiful species, which, “in speckled pride,” flourishes in 
aul of our streams, and is the angler’s special delight. 
fo) 
Osmerus. — This genus has two rows of teeth on each palatal, but only 
