RARE AMERICAN FISH

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22319, 5 February 1938, Page 4

RARE AMERICAN FISH

* BROOK TROUT IN SOUTH CANTERBURY SPECLMEN SAID TO BE unique Specimens of . the rare American brook trout (Salvelinus Fontmaldis) have been caught recently by TemUka anglers fishing in back country lakes. In the South Island this trout grows to a weight between three ana four pounds, and two of the fish taken were up to this average, while the third weighed six pounds. Mr F. W. Pellett, ranger of the South Canterbury Acclimatisation Society, said that the largest of the three was unique in size. He had seen it, and thought it was a very fine example of the variety. The brook trout was the most beautiful, active, and widely distributed of American trout. It preferred cold, clear, and rapid streams. It was easily distinguished by its beautiful markings, said Mr Pellett; most of the body was mottled with gold, and all the fins were tipped with pink. On the mottled background the scales were greyish. They were very small and looked like snake skin. Although Mr Pellett had seen several much smaller brook trout, those shown to him were the first adult fish he had seen since going to South Canterbury from Otago, where he used to breed brook trout in the Clinton hatchcries. -