67 



struck the water. The small boy paused in wonder: — "My, 

 that must have been a whopper !" With which words he 

 hurried home, got a hook and line, hastily cut a short pole 

 and scoured the meadow until he found a frog. With this 

 combination he soon landed a four-pound beauty that the 

 city man with his expensive tackle and large book of flies 

 had spent days trying to secure. 



But trout have their fads; at certain seasons or even on 

 certain days they conclude that they want a certain kind 

 of food and nothing else, no matter how temptingly offered, 

 will serve to attract them. 



During the fall, the males are more brightly colored 

 than at any other season. This is the time that they 

 choose their mates or are chosen by them. The spawning 

 season is from September until the end of November, at 

 which time the fish ascend the smallest streams almost to 

 their sources. The number of eggs laid varies from about 

 one hundred to two thousand depending upon the size and 

 age of the individuals. These lay upon the gravel bot- 

 tom in shallow water until the water is warmed during the 

 following spring, at which time they hatch. Thus from 

 three to six months may elapse between the laying and 

 hatching of the eggs. During the next few months, the 

 young trout fry in common with those of other fish are 

 subject to the depredations of countless enemies, worst of 

 which are the very numerous water insects and larvae of 

 those species that hatch in water. 



Trout can very easiljr be kept in an aquarium provided 

 with running water and will do well if fed with chopped 

 liver, varied at times with small fish and insects. It is 

 only in such confinement that the beauty of the living fish 

 can be fully realized. 



