ISOPONDYLI— SALMONIDAE— SALMO VIRGINAL1S. 687 



This increased brilliancy of color affects both sexes, bnt is noticeable in a 

 more marked degree in the female. About breeding time, the eyes are 

 brighter, scales more brilliant, and the superficial blood vessels more fully 

 engorged than ordinarily ; the movements are more rapid, a celerity being 

 displayed quite at variance with its usual somewhat sluggish habits. This 

 fish winters in the deepest waters of the lakes, as most of the mountain 

 streams to which it resorts in spring and summer are shallow and very cold. 

 The male and female, large and small, run indiscriminately together ; the 

 presence of this fish in any particular locality being indicated by the pres- 

 ence of flocks of birds hovering over the water. Except in the month of 

 July, when unusually sluggish, the Lake Trout may be taken at any time 

 with the hook and line, and, being high spirited and particularly gamy, 

 affords excellent sport for the angler. In summer, it swims low in the water, 

 in order, it is thought, to avoid the extreme heat of the sun. In winter, it 

 prefers the deepest water. 



As far as could be ascertained, the spawn has not been observed to run 

 from this fish when captured, either by the line or net, for the reason, most 

 likely, that the gravid female is seldom taken just prior to or during the 

 time of spawning. It first enters the mouths of mountain streams and rivers 

 to spawn about the middle of March, remaining until the middle of May, by 

 which time the majority have fulfilled their reproductive functions. It is 

 at such times that the fishermen, lying in wait at the mouths of the rivers, 

 are able to capture such enormous quantities. In coming on to the breeding 

 grounds, all sizes are found together, young and old, little and big. The 

 favorite localities for feeding in summer are close to the mouths of rivers, 

 the water of which from the mountains is ice cold, from ten to twelve feet 

 deep? and the current very swift. As already stated, the cold water is pre- 

 ferred in summer and warm in winter. 



After spawning, the trout invariably swim in schools, from one part of 

 the lake to the other, in search of food ; a solitary fish at such time being- 

 seldom seen. In traveling, the trout is nearly always accompanied by its 

 friendly companions, the mullet, sucker, &c, which share with it the danger 

 of attack by man and birds. 



Notwithstanding the apparent affection existing between the different 



