The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1895-07-18
THE GERMAN TROUT.
It Has Thriven Since Its Introduction II
American Streams.

l1G oChMAN nOO 10
| It Has Thriven Since Its Introduction IN
American Streams.
The first specimens of the Won Behr
or brown trout were planted about ten
years ago in New York state streams
after prolonged opposition and with
considerable misgivings on the part OF
the most enthusiastic friends of the
| fish. From their native land in CONT
mental Europe came reports of the can
nlbalistic inclinations of these trout,
how they killed and ate other species
and their own young, how fish eggs
were their favorite diet, how sluggish
they were at maturity, and how I'M
willing to rise at fly. In spite of dis
couraging reports, the late Prof. Baird
secured shipment of twenty-five thou
sand eggs from Germany. About ten
thousand of these fell to the share of
New York state and were planted in
streams at Caledonia. The same year
some of the fry were liberated in the
Pere Marquette river in the far north
ern part of Michigan.
From the first the introduction of
these trout was a marked success. The
specimens caught within two years
after planting proved at least three of
the qualities claimed for the Won Behr;
that it grew with marvellous rapidity,
throve on the food in American wa
ters, and was a quick-rising, savage
| fighting fish. In general shape the
German trout resembles S. fontinalis
very closely, but it is not so deep from
back to belly, and its tail is not so
square, being well rounded at the
corners. With it's greenish brown
bronzed back, boldly dotted with black,
1T is handsome if not brilliantly
colored fish. One at least of its bad
qualities seems to have been proved;
that ii will in a short time exterminate
the native brook trout from any stream
in which both are found. One reason
for this is that the Won Behr grows to
far greater size and weight than the
5. fontinalis, full-grown specimens
sometimes reaching weight of thirty
pounds. Twelve pounds is the weight
OF the biggest yet caught in this coun-
try. Clear, fast-growing, cool streams
are the natural haunts of this trout,
and preferably such as have their out
let in deep-water lake. 1t is swift
swimmer, powerful and very bold in
pursuit of prey. In its high leaps over
riffs or log distractions it resembles
the salmon, though far less venture
some than the latter. During the early
hours of morning and the twilight
time all its feeding is done, and at
noon it lies, seemingly dormant, hid
den under overhanging banks and
rocks. Like the native trout, it feeds
on insects and their larvae, worms,
small fish and tiny crustaceans.
From April to October the fishing
season extends, and May, June and
September are the best months. The
fish rise freely to fly, small spoons,
worms and minnows and are not tickle.
Unless the river be too high or low or
too muddy or a violent storm is on you
may always depend on fair creel of
| brown trout. They love the shadows
of overhanging trees and seem never
to be at home in an open treeless
meadow creek. They bite eagerly and
must be hooked on the instant A
moments delay and it is an empty
strike, but the fish will try for the bait
again and again where S. fontinalis
would bid you scornful farewell.
For stocking preserves these trout
are growing more and more in favor
each year. In springfield ponds and
streams running water is BEST, hav-
ing temperature not higher than 90
degrees Fahrenheit, they are sure to
thrive. They must not be put in with
the native brook trout, but they seem
to get along on good terms with the
big rainbow trout, To show how
popular the Won Behr trout have be-
come in the few years since their arri-
val, one has only to scan the list of
states in which they are now found:
New York, Pennsylvania, Massachus-
etts, Missouri, Michigan, Maryland,
Virginia, Nebraska, Wisconsin and
Colorado have streams stocked with
them, ard several other states are ex-
perimenting with them. As food
fish the Won Behr has no superior Its
flesh is firm and very digestible and
nourishing, and its flavor, when insect
fed, even more delicate than that of
salmon. Its meat is a deeper red than
salmon, and being firmer keeps longer
after killing.-N. Y. Sun.