FISHES. iQ^ 



one species {/S. namaycusJi), the chevron sends a projection backward, which bears 

 teeth, these teeth appearing, unless the flesh is removed, as if standing on the shaft of 

 the bone. 



In color, all the oharrs differ from the salmon and trout, the body being covered 

 with round spots which are paler than the ground color, and crimson or gray. The 

 lower fins are usually edged with bright colors. The sexual differences are not great. 

 The scales, in general, are smaller than in other Salnionidse, and they are imbedded 

 in the skin to such a degree as readily to escape notice. 



" One trout scale in the scales I 'd lay 

 (If trout had scales) and 't will outweigh 

 The wrong side of the balances." — Lowell. 



The charrs inhabit, in general, only the clearest and coldest of mountain streams 

 and lakes. They are not migratory, or only to a limited extent. In northern regions 

 they descend to the sea, where they grow much more rapidly and assume a nearly 

 uniform silvery gray color. The different species are found in all suitable waters 

 throughout the northern parts of both continents, except in the Rocky mountains and 

 great basin, where only the black-spotted trout occur. 



The number of species of charr is very uncertain, as, both in America and Europe, 

 trivial variations and individual peculiarities have been raised to the rank of species. 

 More types, however, seem to be represented in America than in Europe. 



The only well-authenticated species in European waters is the red charr, Salbling, 

 or Ombre Chevalier {Salveliiius alpinus), Fig. 97. This species is found in cold, clear 

 streams and lakes in Switzerland, Germany, and throughout Scandinavia and the British 

 Islands. Compared with the American charr or brook trout, it is a slenderer fish, 

 with smaller mouth, longer fins, and smaller red spots, which are confined to the sides 

 of the body. It is a "gregarious and deep-swimming fish, shy of taking the bait, and 

 feeding largely at night-time. It apj)ears to require very pure and mostly deep water 

 for its residence." It is less tenacious of life than the trout. It reaches a weight of 

 from one to five pounds, probably rarely exceeding the latter size. The various charr 

 of Siberia are too little known to be enumerated here. 



Of the American charr, the one rnost resembling the European one is the Rangeley 

 Lake trout {Salveliiius oquassd). The exquisite little fish is known in the United 

 States only fi-om the Rangeley chain of lakes in western Maine. Quite lately speci- 

 mens of what appears to be the same species have been taken in arctic America, about 

 Cumberland Gulf. Whether the species still inhabits any intervening waters is un- 

 known. The Rangeley trout is much slenderer than the common brook-trout, with 

 much smaller head and smaller mouth. In life, it is dark blue above, and the deep red 

 spots are confined to the sides of the body. The species rarely exceeds the length of 

 a foot. So far as is known, it keeps itself in the depths of the lake until its spawning 

 season approaches, in October, when it ascends the streams to spawn. 



Another beautiful little charr, allied to S. oquassa, is the Floeberg charr [Salvelinus 

 arct'urus.) This species has been brought from Victoria Lake and Floeberg Beach, in 

 the extreme northern part of arctic America, the northernmost point whence any sal- 

 monoid has been obtained. 



The American charr, or, as it is usually called, the brook-trout (Salvelinus fontina- 

 lis), although one of the most beautiful of fishes, is, perhaps the least graceful of all 

 the genuine charrs. 



It is technically distinguished by the somewhat heavy head and large mouth, the 



