260 Second Annual Report of the 



about thirty pounds each daily on some of the fishing grounds. 

 The lake trout were then feeding chiefly upon the little ciscoes. 

 called " frostfish " in that region. This little ciscoe appears to 

 be closely related to the small lake herring of Seneca lake and 

 other New York waters. 



The collection of lake trout eggs in Keuka lake usually begins 

 late in November and continues almost to the middle of Decem- 

 ber. Although this kike contains many of the trout it has never 

 yet furnished a great many eggs. It is said that the spawning 

 beds are greatly depleted by poaching. The yellow perch con- 

 sumes many thousands of the eggs. On a night in December be- 

 tween 3,000 and 4,000 yellow perch were caught at a single haul 

 of a net on a lake trout spawning bed, and every perch that was 

 examined contained from 150 to 250 trout eggs. When the perch 

 were lifted by the tail the eggs ran out of their mouths. The 

 suckers of Keuka lake also destroy large quantities of trout eggs. 



Rainbow Trout. 



On May 10, 1912, two rainbow trout, eight and nine inches 

 long, were caught in a pound net set for maskalonge in Chau- 

 tauqua lake where the species was introduced. 



Eggs of this trout have been taken as early as October 23 in 

 Virginia, November 15 at Cold Spring Harbor, as late as April at 

 Caledonia, and still later at the Adirondack hatchery. 



The rainbow trout rises freely to artificial flies, but it likes best 

 a live minnow or an insect on the surface. A swimming grass- 

 hopper is an irresistible bait. The flies preferred are March 

 Brown, Coachman and Brown Hackle, tied on No. 10 Sproat 

 hooks. 



Steelhead Trout. 

 Foreman Henry Davidson has caught four steelheads in Keuka 

 lake up to this time. One of these is now in the office of the Com- 

 mission. It is probable that many of the fish which have been 

 planted by the Commission are taken by anglers, but not recog- 

 nized by them because of its similarity to the rainbow trout. 



