Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-26
PLANTING RAINBOW TROUT.
Bcautifui and Gamcsome Fishes From Cali
fornia for North Carolina Waters

fornia for North Carolina Waters
THE RAINBOW TROUT OF THE PACIFIC
u coast, so celebrated for its beauty Of color
Ing, size and game qualities. has besn success
fully introduced in the western part OF North
Carolina -Four years ago 100 fngerlings Of
this species were procured from tho United
States fish commission by Mr.. Henry Stewart
and placed In breeding pond adjoining the
Cuiiasagee river. This romantic stream runs
Tor several miles through Highlands Park. the
property OF Mr.. Stewart in Lincoln county.
Its troubled foods have always abounled, like
every other good-sizcd stream in that section.
with the common speckled trout, and on that
account il was anticipated that these new
corners would do we'll.
The rainbow trout otherwise called the Cali
fornia or Pacific brook trout, 10 found in nearly
AL the waters OF the Pacific slope. though more
particularly in California Tits q beautiful
nsn, Its silyery sides adorned with irridescsnt
tints. In California il attains a weight of
seven pounds. However, il is said that speci-
mems weighing thirty pounds have been taken
from Lake Tahoe. They are caught with hy
or spoon bait aud viii fght every inch Of the
way, from the time they are hooked 20 the mo-
ment OF their deposit in the basket
The waters OF the Cullasagee-Cherokee for
sweet Water are Of an icy temperature aud
as transparent as crystal The stream winds
among towering mountains and through lovely
Naiieys In the picturesque Land Of the Sky"
every now and then rnadly rushing with foam
fecked torrents through narrow, Predetermined
banks. TO burst forth presently and leap some
frlghful gorge. The sides OF the stream are
frinSed with beautiful rhododendrons and
ezaisas In the greatest profusion. while the
noading boughs OF white pine and hemloek are
mirrored below. Boulders from the size of a
water bucket TO that of a house strev It's
course. 10 follow such a ragged and inn
petuous river with reel and line is no child 8
play, but the lover Of the gentle art AID tie adj
mlrer OF nature in her grandest aspects are
alike rewarded for the toll il costa them.
Such are the waters in which the lovely and
gamesome rainbow trout has found an eastern
nome Speaking Of the fate OF his fingerlings
Mr. Stewart writes:
The next summer these fish had increased in
SIZE TO ten Inches and two OF them were taken
In the pond. A few had gone over the dam
INTO the river and one was taken four miles
oo"n the stream. Two years ago / WAS as
founded TO find these fish had grown to a size
OF twenty-five inches and a weight of three
pounds lhey had also gone down the stream
ior ten miles, and one OF this size and weight
was taken in my lower pond five miles down
the stream and one in the pond where they
were first planted. The past season a large
number were taken from one TO three pounds
In weight, bu: the river was full of small fish.
Evidently there are some big ones the size of
Which no one has as yet ascertained, because
no tackle used has been able to hold them
however, should judge there are some OF
these nsh in the stream quite seven pounds in
weiSht or even more and will measure over two
leet IN length. On account OF the swIitness of
the stream, its rocky banks and its narrow and
crooked bed it is difficult TO hold such large
hsh with fine tackle and slender rod. Conse-
quentiy every one hooked has got away They
rise to the fly more freely than the common
Tou. and beat them out as fighters. They are
as lively as a salmon and give the angler all he
can do to secare them. For the table they are
as good as the speckled trout ard their red
nesh is fat and firm and finely Favored. Three
years ago saw them mating on the spawning
beds with the speckled trout, and last year
some evidently cross-bred fish we're caught and
am watching closely for a specimen to fully
determine this"