Reports. 



57 



marked in the same manner along the belly, this color taking 

 the place of the golden color of the golden trout. Like the 

 golden trout, they had no spots except a few large ones on the 

 tail, and, if my memory serves me right, on the dorsal fin. The 

 largest I caught was about ten or eleven inches in length, and 

 appeared to be a full grown fish with evidences of age, and in 

 shape was very similar to the large golden trout. I have thought 

 that possibly these fish were either golden trout which had 

 entered the Kern from Golden Trout Creek and then ascended 

 the main Kern as far as the topography would allow, and by 

 reason of the absence of the large amount of sunshine and color 

 of the rocks on Golden Trout Creek had acquired this dark 

 coloration, or perhaps, though less likely, it may have been a 

 modification of the Kern River trout, with tendencies similar to 

 that shown by the golden trout. I regret that I did not bring 

 a specimen home with me, but we had not provided ourselves 

 with any facihties for doing so, and in fact I did not appreciate 

 how distinct this fish was until I got to thinking it over and had 

 been reading more detailed descriptions of the golden trout. If 

 you have previously heard of this Kern River fish, I wish you 

 would let me know what you think of it. With kind regards, I 

 remain. Very truly yours, Wm. E. Colby. 



Stanford University, California, September 2, 1908. 

 Mr. William E. Colby, 502 Mills Building, San Francisco, Cal- 

 ifornia. 



Dear Sir: I am very greatly interested in your letter in regard 

 to the golden trout. I have lately heard of the occurrence of 

 golden trout in Bubbs Creek, at the head of the King's River. 

 It would be interesting to know whether these are the result 

 of somebody's planting, or whether we have in this stream an 

 additional species produced by isolation, in addition to the three 

 already existing in the head of the Kern. 



The dark fish which you have taken in Junction Meadows I 

 have never heard of before. It is not possible without seeing 

 them to guess as to the origin, and maybe it would be guess- 

 work then. It is interesting to notice that so far the golden 

 trout has held its color in different waters. It is, of course, 

 natural that it should reach a larger size in large streams. The 

 more they eat the bigger they get is a rule applying to all trout 

 everywhere. Very truly yours, David Starr Jordan. 



Cedar Cabin, Northfork, Cal. 

 My Dear Mr. Colby: It was most kind of you to think of me 

 in connection with the report on the golden trout, and I have 

 read the report with the greatest interest. Thank you very much. 



