164 



Handbook of Nature-Study 



A speckled trout on a brook bottom. 

 Photo by Verne Morton. 



THE BROOK TROUT 



Teacher's Story 



"Up and down the brook I ran, where beneath the banks so steep, 

 Lie the spotted trout asleep." — Whittier. 



UT they were probably not asleep as Mr. Whittier might 

 have observed if he had cast a fly near one of them. 

 There is in the very haunts of the trout, a suggestion of 

 ^- where it gets its vigor and wariness: The cold, clear 

 streams where the water is pure; brooks that wind in 

 and out over rocky and pebbly beds, here shaded 

 by trees and there dashing through the open, — it makes 

 us feel vigorous even to think of such streams. Under the overhanging 

 bank or in the shade of some fallen log or shelving rock, the brook trout 

 hides where he may see all that goes on in the world above and around 

 him without being himself seen. Woe to the unfortunate insect that falls 

 upon the surface of the water in his vicinity or even that flies low over the 

 surface for the trout will jump easily far out of the water to seize its prey! 

 It is this habit of taking the insect upon and above the water's surface 

 which has made trout fly-fishing the sport that it is. Man's ingenuity is 

 fairly matched against the trout's cunning in this contest. I know of one 

 old trout that has kept fishermen in the region around on the qui vive for 

 years; and up to date he is still alive, making a dash now and then at a 

 tempting bait, showing himself enough to tantalize his would-be captors 

 with his splendid size, but alwaj^s retiring at the sight of the line. 



The brook trout varies much in color, depending upon the soil and the 

 rocks of the streams in which it lives. Its back is marbled with dark 

 olive or black, making it just the' color of shaded water. This marbled 

 coloration also marks the dorsal and the tail fins. The sides, which vary 

 much in color, are marked with beautiful vermilion spots, each placed in 

 the center of a larger, brownish spot. In some instances the lower surface 



