THE OREGON SPORTSMAN :;i 



side, found only in streams of the Cascades and eastward, at least 

 in Oregon, Washington and northward. 



The first ;md most prominent distinguishing trait of a Rain- 

 bow adult fish, of two years old and more, is the peculiar red 

 stripe along the side, following pretty closely the median line 



Almost a Strike. Tlie Rainbow Trout. 



from the opercle to the tail. This mark in the Rainbow is a narrow 

 stripe, not half an inch wide in fish of a pound weight, and not 

 much wider than half an inch in very large specimens of even 

 five pounds and more. Both sexes bear this mark, but it is 

 brighter and bigger on males. 



On a typical Rainbow this stripe is densely red, nearly Indian 

 red, and so clearly defined that it appears as if painted with one 

 sweep of a narrow paintbrush. It is not a rosy blush such as wr 

 see on the side of a male Cutthroat, but a dense, livid, narrow bar 

 This mark is more brilliant at the beginning of the mating season, 

 and grows misty and faint after spawning. I think this mark is 

 more pronounced on Rainbows of waters east of the Cascades. 

 Certainly no such vivid band is seen on Clark or Mason or Dolly 

 Varden trout, nor ever on the Steelhead of my acquaintance. 



