THE SALMON FAMILY. ^99 



All observing anglers have noticed the effect of water and 

 light on the color of Trout ; those taken in streams discolored 

 from having their fountains in swamps, or flowing through 

 boggy grounds where hemlock and juniper trees grow, are 

 invariably dark, their spots less brilliant, and their sides and 

 bellies frequently blurred ; while those of bright streams 

 flowing through open meadows or cultivated fields, are as 

 remarkable for the deep vermilion of their spots, their light 

 color, and delicate shading. Anglers who have fished the 

 Tobyhanna and Broadhead's Creek, in Pennsylvania, will 

 remember the color of the fish of these two streams; the 

 former is boggy, much shaded, and the water, almost the color 

 of brandy ; while the latter is clear, open, bright, and rapid. 

 The Trout of the former are almost black, while those of the 

 latter are light of color, and brilliant. I have seen anglers 

 who could identify the Trout belonging to the different 

 streams in the vicinity, when one turned out his catch from 

 the creel. 



Mr. Brown, in his " American Angler's Guide," says : 

 " The Silver Trout or Common Trout is found in almost all 

 of our clear, swift-running northern streams, and weighs 

 from one to fifteen pounds. A splendid specimen of this 

 species of Trout is found in Bashe's Kill, Sullivan County, 

 New York." Mr. Brown was imposed on by the person on 

 whose authority he makes this statement, for they are 

 seldom if ever taken in Sullivan County above the weight of 

 four pounds. Nor does an average catch in that or the 

 adjoining counties exceed four or five ounces ; nor is there 

 any species called the "Silver Trout." The Black Trout 

 also, which he describes as " found in muddy, sluggish streams 

 with clay bottoms, in the roughest and wildest part of our 

 country," is also nothing more nor less than our ordinary 

 Brook Trout {Salmo fontinalis), which, as already stated, be- 



