34 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
but during the remarkably high water the fish passed over the obstructions and no 
eggs were secured. At Sitka I was told that it spawns in lakes not far from the sea, 
and immediately after spawning goes into the salt water. 
In the opinion of Mr. Dowell the steelhead is “ delicious in flavor.” 
The Red-throated Trout ( Salmo mykiss). Plate iv, Figs. 2 and 3. 
Clark’s trout has recently been called the red-throated trout on account of the 
characteristic crimson streak around the throat. It is a large and extremely variable 
species, and its distribution is nearly or quite as extensive as that of the lake trout. 
One of its varieties is found in streams of the Sierra Madre, Mexico, at an elevation 
between 8,000 and 9,000 feet, in the southern part of Chihuahua, near the boundaries 
of Durango and Cinaloa. In Alaska it has been traced as far north as the Kuskoquim 
River, and doubtless extends still farther. 
As a food-fish the red-throated trout is excellent and the species grows to a large 
size, individuals weighing 20 pounds being recorded. Although not now an important 
commercial fish in the Territory, it furnishes food for the uatives and is taken in large 
numbers by anglers. 
In the Rocky Mountain region it is represented by numerous varieties and is well 
known to fishermen and tourists. These are generally known as Rocky Mountain 
trout and may be readily distinguished by their black spots and the crimson dash 
on the throat. In the mountain lakes and streams of Colorado the trout come down 
to a point where the summer temperature reaches 60° to 65°. In the basin of the 
Colorado they are associated with small dace-like minnows, upon which they feed. 
They prefer clear streams with gravel bottoms. The species is not migratory. 
In the Yellowstone National Park this trout occurs in both the Atlantic and Pa- 
cific watersheds, having traversed the waterway over Two-Ocean Pass. 
The typical red-throated trout of Alaska differs materially in color from its Rocky 
Mountain representatives, having comparatively few large, roundish, black spots on 
the body, chiefly above the lateral line and evenly distributed along the surface; the 
head has a few black spots ; the dorsal and caudal have a moderate number of black 
blotches which are usually oblong in shape. 
Parasitism in the Rocky Mountain trout has been discussed by Dr. Yarrow in 
papers referred to below, and more recently by Dr. Jordan and Prof. Linton in the 
ninth volume of the U. S. Fish Commission Bulletin. 
Cordon Land, fish commissioner of Colorado, has obtained eggs from this species 
on June 21 and they were hatched in 25 days in water varying in temperature from 
52° Fahr. at night to 62° at midday; the eye-spots were plainly visible in 17 days 
from the time of taking the eggs. Mr. Land states that this trout is u easily taught 
to feed and will readily take food from the bottom as well as in transit.” 
An excellent account of the life history of the red-throated trout was published 
by Dr. H. C. Yarrow in the Report of the U. S. Fish Commission, Part n, 1874, in 
advance of its appearance iu the Zoology of the Wheeler Survey Report in 1875. 
Under the name Salmo virginalis he treats particularly of the spawning, feeding, and 
movements of the species. From inquiry and personal observation he fixed the 
maximum length of the fish at 3 feet and the weight at 15£ pounds ; but the average 
