THE OREGON SPORTSMAN 



BLACK-SPOTTED OR CUTTHROAT 

 TROUT-CLARK TROUT 



(SALMO CLARKI1) 



Life History, Habits and Recognition Marks of this Important 



Trout of Western Waters 



By JOHN GILL 



Captain William Clark, of the Lewis and Clark expedition, was first 

 to describe this great trout of Pacific waters. The Captain knew the 

 eastern brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) very well, and the great lake 

 trout (Salvelinus namaycush) which to most of us on the west coast is 

 an entire stranger. Both these trout, natives of eastern American waters — 

 the former found in most streams north of the Ohio river from the Kocky 

 mountain summit to Labrador, as well as in the lakes of the Adirondack 

 region, Canada and New England, and the lake trout in lakes only, appear- 

 ing in unexpected localities from Lake Superior to Moosehead — were evi 

 dently placed in Clark's zoology. Their markings differ greatly, but in 

 both the spots and bars are of a buff yellow on a dusky general tint; 

 though fontinalis has certain brilliant additional spots of glowing crimson, 

 and is more highly-colored and beautiful — or so most writers say. I will no 

 longer subscribe to this opinion. The Clark trout is more graceful in form, 

 and not less beautiful in color, though not so gaudy. 



When the Captain saw this western trout he recognized it as a member 

 of the great salmo family, and was evidently astonished at the reversal of 

 the color-markings as compared with eastern trout. Its spots were black, 

 on an amber and olive background. 



Most of us Oregon anglers have had far greater opportunity than 

 Captain Clark had to note the peculiarities of the "Cutthroat"; but you 

 may stand at Constantine's aquarium any day and hear men and boys 

 diseussing the trout therein, many stoutly maintaining that the one eastern 

 brook trout now in the tank is "just the same" as the score of black- 

 spotted trout. They know (or say they do) that they have caught the 

 former whenever they have fished our westside streams. It takes about 

 five minutes' argument and demonstration to make these confident ob- 

 servers perceive that the spots on the one fontinalis are buff; and on all 

 the others black. 



All but one of our five Pacific trout are thus black-spotted. The 

 exception is the Dolly Varden, a char like the eastern brook and lake trout, 

 and spotted less profusely with buff markings and a few rosy spots. 



Page five 



