The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1907-05-09


trout in ponds that wcre tributaries o
the Baiienkill river nj Manchester
Not much attention Was given the mat
Ter AT thai time. but later these irou
~, into the river and their growth wa
wonderful. Every year since then ",
have heard occasionally Of an angle
bringing IN a brown trout that weighe,
from two 10 eight pounds. hold ,hs
one OF those brown trout in the Batien
Kill river rs worth 300 of the foaiiAaii
Tor increasing the fame Of this stream.
Last fall brown trout was caught ID
Manchester that measured tweniy.eighl
inches long and tipped the scales al
over eight pounds. He was the most
beautiful specimen OF trout ever seen
IN this section OF New England. A
similar one is now mounted and on ex.
hihiiion at the fishing tackle establish.
ment OF c. Y. 0ryis in Manchester.
know OF many anglers who would glad.
ly come from ms far away from here ms
New York, Philadelphia and Chicago
II only they were certain OF getting
Just one chance at those five 10 eight
pound trout; whereas, they would not
travel far for all the brook trout now
in the streams. Another thing about
the brown trout is this; IL you plant
him in fairly agreeable waters there he
will remain, so that you can go TO his
pool year after year.
Brown trout do not wander much,
and mt the end of the first year they
are so large and independent that they
pick suitable waters and hold the same
against all corners. But on the other
hand they are agreeable under ordina-
ry conditions and will live in peace and
unity with the fontinaiis il the latter
does not attempt TO dispute .tdrio's SOW
ereignty over the pool.
For some time past anglers have
complained TO me that they are unable
TO catch the brown trout with rod, hook
and line. They say he won't take the
lure or else he is too strong for their
tackle. OF course they cannot catch
him with the light tackle they use for
six inch brook trout, but if they will
go prepared for Sdlmo .fdrio and get
him when he is hungry, he will give
them a long fight TO remember. The
trouble is the anglers have not studied
the habits of the Jario as they have
JoatiaaHs. The brown trout seems to
adapt himself TO his surroundings with
perfect ease. He will grow at the rate
of pound year for the first five years
and is able TO elude his enemies under
all circumstances. He can withstand
drouths, higher temperature of the wa
ter and freshets much better than the
brook trout. He does not seem partic-
ular about his food. Most anything
will do for him if only there is sufli- |
clent quantity TO keep pace with his
enormous appetite and wonderfully
rapid growth. The complaint of some
epicures is that the flesh of the brown
si---~--.--. nave uau DroWn
trout and a brook trout compared in
this respect. Each weighed over
pound. The meat was SO nearly the
same that it would require an expert
to tell the difference. The source of
this complaint arose from the fact that
they were comparing the flesh OF
brown trout Of over five pounds weight
with that of a .fontinaiis weighing half
pound.
My argument for planting brown
trout is this On account of the rapid |
depletion of our forests the water sheds
are being injured or destroyed. The
result is the temperature of the water
in late years is much higher in mid
summer than formerly; also we have
more drouths and freshets. The for
ests acted as reservoirs and stored the
water in the mountains so that it came
down gradually and was not subjected
to sudden changes either in quantity
or temperature. During the good con-
ditions of old times the Jontiac'is thrived |
and bred in our mountain streams. but
can he withstand the changesf fancy
not; but on the other hand | am quite
sure the Sain,o fario readily adapts him
self TO these conditions; at any rate he
has done so in the Battenkill river in
Vermont. Long live Salmo farioi Let
us hear from others on this subject, as
| am sure it is Of vital interest to the
angler, and predict it will be the
problem of future fish culturists.
The question is: Owing to the ruth
less slaughter Of the forests and the
changes in the condition of our streams,
which trout is best TO plant TO get i'm
mediate results for this generation Of
anglers, .Saireiinus fontnaiis or Saimo
fario2 vote for the latter.
HARRY CHASE.