80 
KENDALL: NEW ENGLAND CHARES. 
to a large extent in the Rangeley waters, although confined to a small size of 3 or 4 inches in 
length. Although large numbers are observed dead floating upon the surface of the water in 
the spring time, the increase seems hardly to be affected. The fish is apparently an admirable 
food for the salmon and trout, and in spring would seem to be the principal food, as their stom- 
achs seem to be crowded with them, and I have repeatedly observed from fifty to seventy in a 
single trout of large size. I consider without question the smelt to be the most valuable fish for 
food-stocking of freshwater ponds and lakes.” 
He also stated that in December and January there is a notable scarcity of live bait and in 
February and March it is very difficult to find, yet the trout are seldom empty of small fry or 
chubs, and it is quite likely that the trout root them out of the mud. This is indicated by earth 
and often lumps of clay found in their stomachs. He stated that he had caught large trout 
often with a small handful of clay balls in their stomachs. In the winter the contents of their 
stomachs are quite miscellaneous, — glutinous ground feed, chubs, varieties of small fry, rarely 
Bluebacks, suckers, and in a few instances I have found whole clams in shells up to three inches 
in length. 
Feeding time . — The trout does not feed at all times of the year or the day. Its habits 
are influenced by both internal physiological and external physical condition. The postnuptial 
wasted condition of the fish would naturally impel it to recuperate by feeding, but at that time 
food is scarce. This is, however, compensated for by the cold water making the fish more or less 
sluggish and dormant, when there is little metabolism and little or no food required. But 
these two forces are contending, as it were, and the fish, therefore, will eat when there is any- 
thing to eat, but can get along without it. The warming of the water and other physical changes 
stimulate them to activity and food. 
It is probable, however, as indicated by their behavior toward anglers, that in warm bodies 
of water they do not feed very much, if at all, during the summer. The principal feeding in 
such cases is done during the night and on cool, overcast or rainy days. But even during the 
recognized fishing season there are often days when the fish will not take bait or fly, and during 
the day when feeding the time is usually early in the morning or in the cool of the evening. Al- 
though many of the habits of trout are fairly well known, their apparent caprices or idiosyncra- 
sies are little understood. In this respect the trout is too much individualized to permit of 
much generalization. 
It is a matter of common remark that on some days trout will bite ravenously and on the 
following day or for days they will not bite at all. Also that at times the fish will rise to a fly 
freely for some time and then suddenly cease to rise, although there are many fish still there. 
There are several things that may be assigned as the causes of such phenomena. It has been 
noticed that when feeding the fish will fill itself to repletion and then periods of varying length 
ensue when the fish will not take food at all. Apparently having become surfeited, they put 
