, 1901-12-30
COMMISSIONER s. H. CAMPBELL

exceeds the catch from native streams.
The entire state may now be regarded
as suitable to the habitat of the rain.
bow and brook trout, and the waters
may be stocked with entire confidence
as to results.
My time being limited by your hon.
orable committee, 1 will speak of only
one Of the varieties Of trout which now
inhabit the waters of the state-the
rainbow trout (Salmo Irideus). The
body of the rainbow trout is compare.
lively short and deep and is more
elongate in males than in females. The
average depth is contained about three
and four-ffths times in the body
length. The short head, which is OBJ
tusely ridged above, is about one-fourth
the total length. The mouth is small
er than in other species of Saline; the
maxillary reaches scarcely beyond the
eye, which is rather large. The caudal
fin is distinctly, but not strongly fork.
ed. On the vomer are two irregular
series of teeth. The dorsal rays mum.
Der eleven and the anal ten. In the
typical species there are about 1876
scales in the lateral series, with TWEEN
ty rows above and twenty below the
lateral line. The color Ia variable, de-
pending on the sex, age and character
of water. Typical adult fish are blu
ish above, silvery on the sides, pro
fusely and ~irregularly dark spotted on
the back and sides, the spots extend
ing to the vertical fins, with a red later.
al band and blotches and a nearly plain
abdomen.
The rainbow trout is not a native of
this state. its original habitat being
the Pacific coast Of the United States.
1t is especially abundant in the noun
tain streams Of California, but has been
successfully transplanted in a number
of the mountain streams of this state.
The best results, however, seem to
have been obtained from plants made
in the Platte, Big and Little Laramie
rivers. 1t al first introduced into
the waters of this state by the Hon.
ceived a consignment of 10000 trout
eggs of the RAINBOW variety from the
United States Commission of Fish and
Fisheries, which was shipped to him
from the McCloud river in California;
the fry we're planted In the Big Lara.
mic river in Albany county.
They show special a%daptability for
the deeper parts Of our larger waters.
being more inclined than brook trout
to drop down stream and frequent or
inhabit the deeper and warmer sec
tions where food Is more abundant.
The inevitable result of this tendency
is that they outstrip the brook trout
in growth and size. Specimens of eight
and ten pounds have been taken by
the rod and fly fishermen from the Big
Laramie river, while a four or five
pound rainbow no longer attracts sre
cial attention.
For the angler the rainbow trout IL
without a rival among fresh water
fishes Universally acknowledged q su-
perior game fish; q vigorous bitter,
and an intelligent fighter for liberty.
The rate Of growth IL largely a Qucs-
ton of food, temperature of water and
extent of range. In water al 60 de.
grees, with plenty Of food, fish one or
two years old will double their size
several times in q single season, while
in water at 40 degrees, with limited
food, the growth is scarcely perceptt
BILE. Some grow much faster than 9th.
ers under the same conditions. The
average growth under favorable artl.
fetal conditions is: One year old, from
E~three-fourths to mi ounce; two years
old, from eight to ten ounces; three
years old, from one to two pounds,
four years old, from two to three
pounds. They will grow until they are
from eight to ten years old, the rate
Of growth diminishing with age.
When the time comes for the fish to
deposit their eggs, they may be seen
in pairs, male and female, going from
the pools into shallow water, say from
a few inches to a foot deep, where the
current uns from two to four miles
an hour over a good gravelly bottom.
where each pair choose their beds, 40
termed, and begin spawning. In tbis
process the female turns on Its aide,
and while making ~aeYarnl Y%ienroma