Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1895-07-08
THE BROWN OR GERMAN TROUT.
Ii Has Thriven Since It's Introduction In
American Streams

i,
Or brown, trout were planted about ten
years ago in New York state ;-reams
after prolonged opposition and with
considerable misgivings on the PIT Of
the most enthusiastic friends of the 1is.l
From their native land in continent ~
Europe came reports of the cannibalistic
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 unwilling to rise at
a fly. In spite of discouraging reports
the late Professor Baird secured a ship
About 10, 900 Of these fell to the share
of New York state and were planted in
streams at Caledonia. The same year
some of the fry We're liberated in the
Pere Marquette river, in the far north
ern part of Michigan.
From the first the introduction of
these trout was q 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 waters
and was quick rising, savage fighting
fish. In general shape thgS1erman trout
resembles S. fontinalis very closely, but
is not SO deep from back to belly, and
its tail is not SO square, being we'll
rounded at the corners. With it's green
ish brown, bronzed back, boldly dotted
with black, it is a handsome if not a
brilliantly colored fish. One at least Of
it's bad qualities seems to have been
proved-that it will in short time ex-
terminate the native brook trout from
any stream in which both are found One
reason for this is that the Won Behr
grows to a far greater size and weight
than the S. fontinalis, full grown speci-
mems sometimes reaching q weight of
80 pounds.
Twelve pounds is the weight of the
biggest yet caught in this country.
Clear, fast flowing, cool streams are
the natural haunts Of this trout and pref
erably such as have their outlet in
deep water lake. It is q 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 ventures0me than the
latter. During the early hours of morn
ing and the twilight time all it's feeding
is done, and at noon it lies, seemingly
dormant, hidden 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 sea-
son extends, and May, June and Sep
l1n hos he HcI,
rise freely to fly, small spoons, worms
and minnoWs and are not ficl1le 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 over
hanging trees and SEEN 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 q scornful
farewell
For stocking preserves these trout are
growing more and more in favor each
year. In spring fed ponds and streams
water is best-having q tenn
perature not higher than so degrees E.
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 have become in the few years since
their arrival, one has only to scan the
list Of states in which they are now
found. New York, Pennsylvania, Mas
Missouri, Michigan, Mary
land, Virginia, Nebraska, Wisconsin and
Colorado have streams stocked with
them and several other states are expert
with them. AS food fish the
Won Behr has no superior. It's flesh is
firm and very digestible and nourishing,
and its flavor, when insect fed, even
more delicate than that of salmon It's
meat is deeper red than salmon, and
being firmer keeps longer after killing
New York Sun.