1881 .] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
237 
A GROUP OF BROOK OR SPECKLED TROUT. 
The Brook or Speckled Trout. 
By common consent the Brook or Speckled 
Trout, Salmo fontinalis, is placed at the head 
of the list of our fresh water fishes. Others 
may surpass it in the single quality of beauty, 
in the sport they afford the angler, or in the 
choice character of its flesh as food, but no 
other so completely combines all these quali¬ 
ties. This Trout (for there are several others), 
is found in the greatest abundance along our 
northern borders, and extends to the Middle 
States, though along the mountains it reaches 
into Georgia and the Carolinas. It is found 
in the smallest brooks and the largest rivers, 
and in lakes and ponds. In size it varies 
greatly; a trout weighing five pounds would 
he regarded as very large, but they have been 
known to reach 12, and even 17 pounds. 
Their beauty, both as to symmetrical form 
and exquisite coloring, is recognized by the 
sportsman, who often speaks of them as 
“ speckled beauties.” This “ speckled” char¬ 
acter is due to well defined spots of vermil¬ 
ion red, yellow and black, which, in contrast 
with the ground color, give this a brilliancy 
rarely to be met with among northern fishes. 
As a “ game ” fish it has long enjoyed a 
prominent position, as it makes a lively play 
at the hook. In most cases the flesh is of a 
salmon, or rather an orange color; while all 
do not agree in ranking it above all other 
fishes in quality, the general esteem in which 
it is held is shown by the fact that in the 
New Yorks markets it rarely is sold for less 
than $1 a pound. A regular sportsman would 
not think of angling for trout with anything 
but an artificial fly, one of just the right color 
for the season, and a lancewood pole, with 
a reel of the most approved pattern. Yet 
the country boy, with his bait of worms, and 
a rod cut from the nearest thicket, will often 
bring home a heavier string of fish than the 
most completely equipped angler. The finest 
trout fishing the writer ever enjoyed was in 
utter disregard of all the books say about the 
proper flies, leaders, and the reel. Many 
years ago, while exploring near the Canada 
border, the party encamped near a brook, 
and at some distance from the base of 
a high mountain. A short distance from 
camp there poured down a mountain torrent, 
which formed a still, deep pool at the base of 
a huge rock, which looked promising for 
trout. Hooks and lines we had, and a stick 
was cut for a rod. The only thing at hand 
for bait was fat salt pork; with a bit of this, 
we took trout weighing from half a pound to 
a pound as fast as the hook could be dropped 
into the water, until further capture seemed. 
