A NEW SPECIES OF TROUT FROM LAKE TAHOE. 
By JOHN OTTERBEIN SNYDER, 
Stanford University^ California, 
While engaged under the direction of the United States Bureau of Fisheries in an 
examination of the fauna of the various river basins that were at one time connected 
with the quaternary Lake Lahontan, a very remarkable species of trout was observed, 
which, although known to many sportsmen and fishermen, has entirely escaped the 
attention of ichthyologists. It is the purpose of this paper to record something of what 
is now known of its characteristics and present a preliminary description of the species. 
Lake Lahontan, which in quaternary times was a large body of water very irregular 
in shape, extended over a considerable part of northern Nevada. By a shrinkage of 
the great lake, due to desiccation, a number of its tributary streams became detached 
and now remain as minor systems. Their waters ultimately disappear through evapo- 
ration or by sinking in the loose, dry sand of the deserts, which now cover the floor of 
the old lake, whose ancient terraces and gravel bars are plainly visible on every side. 
The largest and most important of these minor basins is that of the Truckee River, 
including Lake Tahoe and tributary streams, which form its source, and Pyramid and 
Winnemucca Lakes, into which the river flows, and where its waters are finally carried 
off by evaporation. 
The rivers and lakes of the various basins which belong to the Lahontan system 
are well supplied with fishes, exceedingly abundant in number although representing 
but a few species. Of chief interest and value among these are the trout, which appear 
to have found the most advantageous conditions for growth and development in the 
Truckee River basin. A resume of the information obtained from the more intelligent 
anglers shows that they here distinguish six varieties of native trout. Three forms 
are recognized in the lower portion of the basin, viz, the large redfish, which in early 
spring ascends the Truckee River to spawn; the Tommy trout, which is smaller, darker 
colored, and more conspicuously spotted, and which ascends the river at a later date 
than the redfish; and the greenback, a deep-water, silvery trout, which occurs in Pyramid 
Lake, presumably spawning there. Three varieties are distinguished also in the upper 
Truckee region: The Tahoe trout, dark in color, boldly and regularly spotted, ascend- 
ing the tributaries to spawn ; the silver trout, somewhat similar to the foregoing except 
that it is decidedly silvery in color, the spots are smaller and somewhat more elongate, 
and the body is deeper and heavier; and, finally, the royal silver trout, blue above, 
silvery on the sides, and almost entirely without spots. 
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