26 



Sierra Club Bulletin. 



Fishing, swimming, and a two-days' trip to the vol- 

 canic region in the vicinity of Golden Trout Creek occu- 

 pied the first week of the outing, at the end of which 

 camp was moved ten miles up the canon to the junc- 

 tion of the Big Arroyo with the Kern. 



An interesting feature of the side trip to the volcanoes 

 was an experiment in stocking a lake with golden trout. 



There has been a close season on golden trout for 

 several years and the only fish of that variety caught by 

 our party were the hundred that were transplanted. 



Up in the camp at Long Meadow the word went forth 

 from the Deputy Fish Commissioner that for a short 

 half hour the ban would be lifted and those desirous 

 of catching the far-famed trout would be given the oppor- 

 tunity to aid in this, our first fish-stocking experiment. A 

 dozen fishermen lined up on the banks of Golden Trout 

 Creek with half as many agile assistants in attendance, 

 each armed with a pail of water. The successful angler, 

 crying peremptorily for "Pail!" much as the distracted 

 shop girl summons ''Cash !" on a bargain day, dropped 

 his gleaming captive into the pail. Thence it was trans- 

 ferred to the large fish cans, shaped like milk cans, but 

 with ventilated stoppers, which, strapped to a pack mule, 

 served to carry the fish on the trail. 

 ■ The golden trout were not only wonderfully abundant, 

 but kept biting so fast that the assistants were taxed to 

 their utmost to respond to the calls. In a very short time 

 the cans were filled to the requisite number, when the 

 ardent anglers reluctantly ceased fishing. The mules were 

 in waiting and the unwilling emigrants were at once 

 started over the rough, steep trail to their new home, a 

 lake beautifully situated on the high plateau between 

 the Kern Canon and the rugged gray peaks of the summit 

 crest. A curious contrast was observed in the actions 

 of the golden trout when released to those of the rainbow 

 trout transplanted in a subsequent experiment at Moraine 

 Lake. The golden trout leaped from the can and sped 

 at once far out into the lake, while their less gamey 



