New-York tribune., 1907-12-22
GOLDEN TROUT OF VOLCANO CREEK.
GOLDEN TROUT OF SODA CREEK.

the expedition was Charles B. Hudson, A painter
of fishes and he made for the use OF the president
and the bureau of fisheries pictures OF seVordi
specimens of trout just they were taken from
tho streams OF these two called golden
from, one from Soda Creek and the other from
Volcano Creek. That from Soda Creek Is less
strongly and less beautifully marked than It's
neirhbor from the other side of the Kern River
canyon bat it is similar and is now as compie'e'S
segregated as the Volcano Creek species
To the Volcano Creek species Mr.. Evermann gave
the name Salmo ROOSEVELT and that from ooud
Creek he named Salmo Whftei. In honor OF MI
White Both will bear Mr.. EVernann ndhle i-'
the one who first classified them or discovered
tb.r, ecicntifcallv The trout of the Kern River
had been classified by DR.. David Starr JORDAN IN
1893 This fish is a beauty but its coors are less
brilliant and entirely different from those OF tne
golden trout II Is thickiy spotted WhiIo lho s0'n
en- trout has few spots.
This is the most beautiful OF all the trout
said Mr. Evermann in speaking of the Volcano
Creek species. THE brilliancy and richness OF IT'S
coloration is equalled by that or any otner
known species The delicate golden olive or the
head. back and upper part OF the side; tho clear.
golden yellow along and below tho lateral line. ana
the marvellously rich cadmium OF the under parts
fuIy entitle the species TO be known above a'l
others the golden trout
In form I, is no less beautiful. Its lines arc
perfect the fms large and we'll proporuoned ana
the caudal peduncle is strong. all fitting II ad-
rnIrablv for life In the turbulent waters in Which
II dwells II Is small fish. however. the largest
example collected by US being only 1II4 inches
long and the heaviest Weighing 10 ounces 1t Is
probable that il never attains greater length
than fourteen inches a weight OF more than
pound in Volcano Creek. The golden trout is ma
tive 10 Volcano Creek alone, and occurs through
out the entire length of that stream Although
we obtained specimen the foot OF the first fall
il is doubtful whether many individuals venture
far down.
Mr. Evermann does not pretend TO explain why
the trout IL .olcano Creek should be so radically
different from their forefathers in Kern FaVer
II may have been due, authorities say. to the
character of the bottom. the minerals IN the water
the conditions OF light in the canyon, or even the
prevailing foliage. None OF these, however. ac-
count for the radical coloring. and it must be
put down Mr.. Evormann says, one of the mys-
teries of nature whose solution can be no more
than guessed at. 1t IS known. however. that
trout segregated in pools with muddy bottoms
have much less brilliant coorng than others In
the same stream living gravelly or rocky bot
toms.
The chief difference, aside from variation in
shape between the Soda Creek specimens and
those from Volcano Creek is in the number and
ARRANGEMENT of black spots. The fish named for
Mr. White has the whole top Of the body, from
nose TO tail tip. thickly covered and apparently
imposed on the delicate red and olive gold OF the
body. The species bearing the nalne of the Presi-
dent however is bare OF spots except on the tail.
Il few an inch or two up from IL and tho
dorsal fin. The Kern River trout is tinted in pink.
pale blue, old gold and olive, with fine yellow or
lemon specks 1t does not look though it were
any nearer related its beautiful offspring than
perhaps mothcr-in-law, If that much.