第57章

I thought then, and have ever since, that the Golden Trout, fresh from the water, is one of the most beautiful fish that swims.Unfortunately it fades very quickly, and so specimens in alcohol can give no idea of it.In fact, I doubt if you will ever be able to gain a very clear idea of it unless you take to the trail that leads up, under the end of which is known technically as the High Sierras.

The Golden Trout lives only in this one stream, but occurs there in countless multitudes.Every little pool, depression, or riffles has its school.When not alarmed they take the fly readily.One afternoon Icaught an even hundred in a little over an hour.By way of parenthesis it may be well to state that most were returned unharmed to the water.They run small,--a twelve-inch fish is a monster,--but are of extraordinary delicacy for eating.We three devoured sixty-five that first evening in camp.

Now the following considerations seem to me at this point worthy of note.In the first place, the Golden Trout occurs but in this one stream, and is easily caught.At present the stream is comparatively inaccessible, so that the natural supply probably keeps even with the season's catches.Still the trail is on the direct route to Mount Whitney, and year by year the ascent of this "top of the Republic"is becoming more the proper thing to do.Every camping party stops for a try at the Golden Trout, and of course the fish-hog is a sure occasional migrant.

The cowboys told of two who caught six hundred in a day.As the certainly increasing tide of summer immigration gains in volume, the Golden Trout, in spite of his extraordinary numbers at present, is going to be caught out.

Therefore, it seems the manifest duty of the Fisheries to provide for the proper protection and distribution of this species, especially the distribution.

Hundreds of streams in the Sierras are without trout simply because of some natural obstruction, such as a waterfall too high to jump, which prevents their ascent of the current.These are all well adapted to the planting of fish, and might just as well be stocked by the Golden Trout as by the customary Rainbow.

Care should be taken lest the two species become hybridized, as has occurred following certain misguided efforts in the South Fork of the Kern.

So far as I know but one attempt has been made to transplant these fish.About five or six years ago a man named Grant carried some in pails across to a small lake near at hand.They have done well, and curiously enough have grown to a weight of from one and a half to two pounds.This would seem to show that their small size in Volcano Creek results entirely from conditions of feed or opportunity for development, and that a study of proper environment might result in a game fish to rival the Rainbow in size and certainly to surpass him in curious interest.

A great many well-meaning people who have marveled at the abundance of the Golden Trout in their natural habitat laugh at the idea that Volcano Creek will ever become "fished out." To such it should be pointed out that the fish in question is a voracious feeder, is without shelter, and quickly landed.A simple calculation will show how many fish a hundred moderate anglers, camping a week apiece, would take out in a season.And in a short time there will be many more than a hundred, few of them moderate, coming up into the mountains to camp just as long as they have a good time.All it needs is better trails, and better trails are under way.

Well-meaning people used to laugh at the idea that the buffalo and wild pigeons would ever disappear.

They are gone.

ON GOING OUT