302 GAME FISH OF NOR TH AMERICA. 



a manner that it wUl give the fish a curve and will turn around 

 like a troUing-spoon when it is drawn through the water. Tlie 

 most successful fishermen use three of this same kind of rigs in 

 one boat ; they fish one rig near the top with a light sinker, say 

 four ounces, and one about half way down with an eight ounce, 

 sinker and the twelve ounce sinker near the bottom. This is the 

 most successful rig I have ever used. The boat should be rowed 

 very slow; so that you can feef the bottom with the heavy sinker 

 nearly every time you raise it up and let it down. The bait should 

 be raised up and down by a gentle motion, set the other two 

 lines, one on each side of the boat, and they will take care of 

 themselves. Live fish should be used for bait. Some do not use 

 but eight hooks, one hook for the upper to hook in the minnow's 

 mouth and one to hook through the back near the tail, and two 

 sets of three each between the two single hooks tied about one 

 and a half inches apart. Be careful and keep your minnow look- 

 ing as natural as possible. Do not rub any more scales off Aan 

 you can help. When you let your line out your boat should be in 

 motion to keep your bait from twisting around the main line." 



Togue are extremely voracious, and will often seize the bait 

 repeatedly after having been insecurely hooked. The young fish 

 rise freely to trout flies in rapid water, though few are taken in this 

 way that exceed three pounds in weight. 



When in perfect condition it bears a close resemblance to a 

 full grown salmon, though it is more chunky ; lacking its symmet- 

 rical lines. A rich pearly lustre covers the ventral regions, deep- 

 ening into russet toward the lateral line ; above which the color 

 appears of a deep mottled grey, deepening into blue or purplish 

 brown on the back. The body is covered with spots and mark- 

 ings of a lighter sienna color, circular, without being ocellate, 

 varying according to the seasons and local influences, being bright- 

 er at the spawning periods than at other times. The fins are of a 

 yellowish or orange hue below ; the dorsal of a dark grey. The 

 tail is long, broad, and deeply forked ; the flesh of a pale yellow. 

 Its fonn indicates great strength and swiftness, although it has the 

 reputation of being slow and sluggish. Its jaws and tongue are 

 armed with conical and inflected teeth. 



It preys extensively on eels and cyprinids, and nothing that it 



