BROOK TROUT 



side about six inches with a breadth of two feet. 

 Holding tightly, the fish surged deep to the left, and 

 when within a foot of the rock, and unable to go 

 around its lower side because of the strain of the line, 

 and fearing still more its human enemy in front, the 

 fish suddenly leaped into the air on a slack line, and 

 over the top of the bowlder, but this unusual strategic 

 action did not save him ; in a few moments he was in 

 my creel. 



The size of a trout at its different stages of growth 

 depends upon the area of the water in which it lives, 

 the food therein, and vigor and health of the individual, 

 hence this fish and all other species show characteristic 

 and personal physical traits : some are large and vigor- 

 ous for their age ; others are stunted and feeble, in fact, 

 the natural law of the " survival of the fittest " is su- 

 preme among the fauna of the world, whether of the 

 air, the water, or the land, extending, as all know, to 

 the genus homo. Hence it is somewhat difficult to 

 decide upon the age of a trout from its size, weight, 

 coloration, or specific form, but, as a rule, the average 

 growth of a trout is about one ounce for the first year, 

 eight to ten ounces in two years, and one pound in 

 three years. These sizes are naturally and relatively 

 increased where their habitat is fully supplied with 

 food and where the water is of higher temperature than 

 in the pure spring streams. For instance, the trout of 

 the Rangeley Lakes in Maine grow to the weight of 

 ten pounds or more ; they are pure Salvelinus fontinalis, 



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