28 Conservation Department 



brown trout to those warmer streams in which brook trout cannot 

 hope to maintain themselves, except in a few of the larger streams 

 where stream conditions vary widely and a marked extension of 

 trout fishing may be obtained by planting brown trout in the 

 warmer parts. 



The East Branch of Fish creek is an example in which brook 

 trout are recommended for the upper part from tributary 32 

 (Pringle creek) to source, while browns have been designated from 

 tributary 32 to mouth. 



In the upper section of the watershed located in Lewis county, 

 Map 1, the brook trout stream mileage predominates in the ratio 

 of about 135 to 27 for browns. Undoubtedly this circumstance to- 

 gether with the larger size attained by brown trout have influenced 

 the members of the Fish Creek Club to introduce the latter in that 

 part of the stream controlled by them. Just how far upstream 

 the browns will move is a question, but during the summer of 1927 

 a few were captured a distance of about 4 miles above the Club 

 preserve. 



The conditions as studied indicate that the water of Fish creek 

 even a short distance below the Club property is entirely suitable 

 for brook trout. Nevertheless since the browns are now well estab- 

 lished here, it seems unwise to continue stocking the main stream 

 with brooks in any place below the private preserve. 



Nursery Streams: Those under three feet in width, without 

 sizable fishing pools may be considered nursery streams and it 

 is advisable to stock them with the sole idea of increasing the 

 population in the main streams to which they are tributary. Quite 

 often, however, we find a nursery stream entirely suitable for brook 

 trout but flowing into a larger fishing stream suitable for brown 

 trout only. Our policy should not change, because we are stocking 

 it for the benefit of the larger stream. In this particular case we 

 would recommend brown trout. If, however, the little stream hap- 

 pened to be tributary to a larger one not suitable for any trout, 

 it is unwise to stock it at all. It is true that a few trout if planted 

 might grow to be 6 or 7 inches long and quite probably they would 

 be caught by the first angler to visit the stream on the opening 

 day. There is reason to believe also that a large proportion might 

 Avork down into the larger stream during the colder part of the 

 year and disappear altogether. It is much better to omit all such 

 streams from our stocking program and to concentrate our efforts 

 upon those of larger productiveness, stocking more heavily and 

 perhaps with trout of larger size. 



Rainbow Trout: The facts concerning the rainbow trout com- 

 monly distributed in New York State appear to be as follows : 

 They become sexually mature at the end of the third year counting 

 from the time the eggs are laid in April. Those kept in the spring 

 water of the State hatcheries may spawn at varying times from 

 December to April but wild rainbows in New York streams spawn 

 principally during April. Young rainbows planted in the smaller 

 streams whether cold ones suitable for brook trout or the warmer 



