184 AMERICAN FISH CULTURE. 



It is my purpose to treat separately, and under its appro- 

 priate head, of the species of each family which I have 

 thought may be advantageously naturalized. 



SALMONIDA 



Having already treated at length of the cultivation of the 

 true salmon (^S. salar), I will proceed with other species 

 of the same genus. 



The Brook Trout (iS'. fontinalis). — This, as well as 

 its nobler cogener, has already occupied so much space 

 that further notice of it might be deemed superfluous. 

 Still its cultivation is a matter of so much importance that 

 I shall ofiFer some remarks on its naturalization. 



No sooner is a line of travel opened to within a reason- 

 able distance of any part of the country where trout are 

 abundant, than the backwoodsman, in league with the city 

 fish dealer, commences a war of extermination. Urged on 

 by the high price they bring in market, all manner of 

 means, fair and foul, are used to take them, and they are 

 sent to the cities in season and out of season. Sometimes 

 trout of unusual size are offered for sale even in the streets 

 of New York just after they have spawned, and incon- 

 siderate people buy them, when they are no more to com- 

 pare to the same fish in June than a handful of dried 

 apples are to a Newton pippin. We also see them gar- 

 nished and displayed in the windows of restaurants in 

 October and November, and those who are ignorant of the 

 flavor of a trout in good condition, eat them because trout 

 are considered a delicacy. I forget how many tons of 



