QL 626 Scientific Excellence • Resource Protection & Conservation • Benefits for Canadians U5313 no. 58 DFO - Library I MPO - Bibliothèque 1988 c.2 12064781

Trout in Canada's Atlantic Provinces 2 Underwater World

our species of live in Canada's The is a native of eastern F Atlantic provinces of New Bruns- North America and is Atlantic Canada's wick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward most comrnon trout. It is extensively dis- TROUT IN Island, and Newfoundland. Two are tributed throughout the Atlantic prov- native and two have been introduced. inces, including offshore islands, in CANADA'S The four species belong to the family of cool, clear lakes, ponds, and streams. ATLANTIC fishes known as whose Fish from many populations leave fresh members include salmons, , chars, water and go to sea. The brook trout is PROVINCES and whitefishes. Members of this family the fish most preferred by anglers in are commonly referred to as salmonids. each of the Atlantic provinces. In some Salmonidae is the dominant family of areas, sea-run brook trout are harvested fishes in the northern waters of North commercially. America, Europe, and Asia. It is prob- ably the most economically important The appearance of adult brook trout in family of freshwater fishes in the world. fresh waters varies from place to place and with age and sex of the fish, but is Brook trout usually distinct from ail of its relatives. ( fontinalis) The back is green to dark brown or Other common names of the brook nearly black. The back, the almost trout are brook charr, speckled trout, unforked or square tail, and the large fin coaster, brookie, square-taï!, mud trout, in the middle of the back (dorsal fin) are , slob trout, native trout, East- marked with lighter-colored, wavy lines. ern brook trout, mountain trout, breac, The sides are green to brown with pale spots and small, distinct, red spots sur- Fig. 5 Useful identifying features for adult omble de fontaine, truite, truite de mer, trout in the Atlantic provinces. and truite mouchetée. rounded by bluish halos. The belly can be white to yellow in females or deep orange to red in males. The front edges BROOK TROUT of the lower fins are black with white borders. Colors become more pro- nounced as spawning time approaches. Brook trout that go to sea become sil- very and Jose much of their distinctive marking, but the white leading edges of the lower fins and the red spots on the sides are often visible. Upon returning Distinct, regular rows from the sea, they revert to their usual of black spots on dorsal fin and tail appearance in fresh waters. Brook trout flesh ranges from white to orange, pink, and red, depending on the diet and physical condition of the fish.

Brook trout spawn in the fall, usually Reddish band along center of each side from September to November, in shal- low, gravel-bottomed streams and, occasionally, in lakes. The female digs and cleans a shallow nest or redd in the grave! and covers her 3 to 5 mm dia- meter eggs after they have been shed and fertilized. The young, after hatching, remain in the grave! absorbing the yolk Red , orange, or yellow spots sacs of their eggs. They typically emerge with pale borders from the grave! in the spring when they are about 3 to 4 cm long.

Brook trout eat a great variety of food, including plankton, insects, snails, clams, and fish. Food size tends to increase as the trout get larger. Growth Underwater World 3

50 100 remain in the sea close to their home streams for an average of two months, 45 90 and return to fresh water. They do not necessarily move every year from fresh 40 80 to salt water. Food in the sea is mostly

35 Q) 70 fish and the growth of sea-run brook Q) trout is more rapid than the growth of 30 E 60 freshwater brook trout. E c: c: 25 -Q) 50 -Q) Rainbow trout 20 40 ( gairdneri) The rainbow trout is also called steel- 15 30 head trout, steelhead, Kamloops trout, z z 10 ...J 20 coast rainbow trout, , and ...J truite arc-en-ciel. 5 10 The rainbow trout is a native of western 2 3 4 5 6 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 North America. It was introduced into AGE (years) AGE (years) Newfoundland in 1887, into New Bruns- Figure 1. Variation in growth of brook Figure 2. Variation in growth of wick and Nova Scotia in 1899, and into trout from different area. rainbow trout from different Prince Edward Island in 1925. It prefers are as. cool, clear lakes, ponds, and streams but 100 100 can tolerate warm water and may migrate to sea. The rainbow trout is 90 90 commonly used for fish farming and as a standard laboratory for tests 80 80 of water quality. Next to brook trout,

Q) it is the trout most preferred by anglers 70 Q) 70 in at least three of the Atlantic E 60 E 60 provinces. Q) 50 c: 50 -Q) The color of adult rainbow trout is 40 40 variable. In fresh waters, the back may be metallic blue to yellow, green, brown, z 30 z 30 or black. The sides may be silvery, ...J white, or yellow-green to grey but are ...J 20 20 usually marked with a pink, rose, or red 10 10 band along the center of each side. Small black spots occur on the back 2 3 4 5 6 78 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 and, often, over the sides. These small AGE (years) AGE (years) black spots occur in distinctly regular rows on the dorsal fin and nearly square Figure 3. Variation in growth of Figure 4. Variation in growth of Jake brown trout from different trout from different areas. or lightly forked tail. Rainbow trout that are as. migrate to large lakes or the sea become more silvery but retain the regular rows rates are highly variable but brook trout of black spots on the dorsal fin and tail. usually mature at about 2 to 4 years of The flesh of rainbow trout is usually age and 10 to 20 cm in length. Although pink to red in smaller individuals to they seldom live longer than five years white in larger trout feeding almost and fish of 0.5 kg are considered large, exclusively on fish. the biggest brook trout on record, caught in Ontario in 1916, was 6.6 kg. Rainbow trout spawn in the spring in the Generally, larger bodies of water Atlantic provinces, usually from March contain older, bigger fish. to May, in shallow, gravel-bottomed streams. Spawning activities and egg The migrations of sea-run brook trout sizes are similar to those of the brook are variable. Typically, fish descend to trout. Young usually emerge from the the sea from Iate April to early June, grave! in about 5 to 8 weeks. Underwater World 4 .

Rainbow trout, as do the other trout, The brown trout is a native of Europe feed on a wide variety of food, with diet and western Asia. It was introduced into depending on food availability and food Newfoundland in 1884, into New Bruns- size tending to increase as the trout get wick in 1921, and into Nova Scotia in larger. Age at maturity is usually 3 to 1923. It does not occur on Prince 5 years but, because of variable growth Edward Island. It inhabits cool-to-warm rates, length at maturity may range from lakes, ponds, and streams and fish from 15 to 40 cm. Usually, the oldest fish many populations migrate to sea. The captured are 3 to 4 years in small brown trout can remain active for longer streams and lakes and 6 to 8 years in sea- periods of time than brook trout in run populations. Rainbow trout of 2 kg warm waters and thus, often thrives are considered large in Canada's Atlan- where brook trout cannot. Brown trout tic provinces but world angling records are becoming increasingly popular with include a freshwater resident weighing anglers in the Atlantic provinces and in excess of 11 kg and a sea-run fish over sea-run fish are often mistaken for 19 kg. .

Rainbow trout that migrate to sea The adult brown trout in fresh waters usually leave fresh water in the spring, has a brown or olive-brown back, lighter at 1 to 4 years of age. They may remain brown to silvery sides, a white belly, and in the ocean for only one season or an overall light brown or tawny appear- spend several years there before return- ance. Large black spots on the back, ing, with a high degree of homing, to dorsal fin, upper sides, and upper head spawn in fresh waters. often have lighter borders. Occasionally, there may be a few irregularly arranged Brown trout black spots on the nearly square or (Sa/mo trutta) slightly forked tail. Red, orange, or Common names of the brown trout yellow spots with pale borders are on the include German brown trout, English sides. Brown trout that migrate to large brown trout, Lochleven trout, European lakes or the sea become silvery and Jose brown trout, brownie, sea trout, and much of their distinctive spotting. Sea- truite brune. run brown trout can often be distin- guished from look-alike Atlantic salmon by their upper jawbone extending beyond the eye, their smaller and more numerous black spots on the head, and their smaller scales. After returning from the sea, their freshwater coloration soon reappears. The flesh of brown trout may vary from white to reddish.

Brown trout spawn in late fall to early winter, usually after brook trout, in stream areas similar to those selected by brook trout or, occasionally, in lakes. Spawning activities are similar to those of the brook trout. Brown trout eggs have a diameter of about 4 to 5 mm. The young usually emerge from the grave! in April or May.

Brown trout eat a great variety of food as do the other trout. Large brown trout feed mainly at dusk or later, with fish being an important part of their diet. They usually mature at about 3 to 6 years of age and seldom live longer than 10 years. The average size of brown catNo. // 89 0 Underwater World 5

trout captured in inland waters is about will eat almost any food but 0.5 to 1.0 kg. In the Atlantic provinces, the larger ones prefer fish. Lake trout angled fish of greater than 4 kg are not that eat fish grow faster and live longer rare and fish larger than 12 kg have been than those that do not. Growth rates are captured. variable but Jake trout usually mature at about 5 to 8 years of age and 30 to Brown trout that go to sea may migrate, 60 cm in length. The maximum age of typically in April to June, and return to Jake trout is usually about 15 to 25 fresh water in 2 to 4 months or after years, although some fish live as long as spending one or more winters in the 50 to 60 years. In most lakes, angled ocean. Ocean migrations may be exten- Jake trout average Jess than 60 cm an·d sive. When returning to fresh waters, 4 kg butfish of greater than 157 cm and they often stray to places other than 40 kg have been caught. their river of origin. Hybrid trout Lake Trout Crosses of the brook, rainbow, brown, (Salvelinus namaycush) and Jake trouts have occurred, usually Other common names of the Jake trout through artificial means. Hybrids are are Jake charr, Great Lakes trout, togue, often strikingly marked. Typically, laker, grey trout, and touladi. appearance and habits are intermediate to those of the parents. In some envi- The Jake trout is a native of North ronments, hybrids may have a highei- ' America. In the Atlantic provinces, it rate of survival than either of the occurs in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, parents. With the exception of the and the Labrador portion of Newfound- splake or wendigo (Jake trout X brook land. lt prefers cool, deep lakes but, in trout), hybrids are typically sterile. the north, may inhabit shallow lakes and rivers. It is the least tolerant of salt water Hybrids do not occur regularly in nature of the North American salmonids but due to the differing habitat preferences, may occasionally be found in estuaries. spawning times, and behaviours of the The Jake trout is one of the world's species. However, naturally occurring largest freshwater fishes. It is highly tiger trout (brown trout X brook trout) regarded in both commercial and sports with their extensive pattern of light- fisheries. colored lines or spotting, may be cap- tured in areas inhabited by both brook The color of adult Jake trout varies from trout and brown trout. light green, grey, or silvery to dark green, brown, or black on the sides and back. Light-colored spots occur on the back, sides, cheeks, dorsal fin, and deeply forked tail. Often, the light- colored spots run together into larger spots or worm-like markings. No red spots or other bright colors appear on the body. Sometimes, narrow, white borders appear on the front edges of the lower fins but are never as distinct as those on the brook trout. The flesh may be white, pink, orange, or orange- red, depending on diet and physical condition.

Lake trout usually spawn from Septem- ber to November, on clean, rocky shoals in lakes or, rarely, in rivers. The 5 to 6 mm eggs are fertilized and then fall into crevices among the rocks. They typically hatch in about 4 to 5 months. QL 626 U5313 no.58 1988 c. 2 Underwater World 6 Ryan, P.M. d 's Atlantic Trout in Cana a Provinces 12064781 c . 2 118980

Further Reading: Underwater World factsheets are brief Buss, K., and J.E. Wright, Jr. 1958. illustrated accounts of fisheries re- "Appearance and fertility of trout sources and marine phenomena pre- hybrids." Trans. Amer. Fish. Soc. 87: pared for public information and edu- 172-181. cation. They describe the life history, geographic distribution, utilization and Martin, N.V ., and C.H. Olver. 1980. population status of fish, shellfish and "The lake charr, Salvelinus namay- other living marine resources, and/ or cush." p. 205-277. In E.K. Balon the nature, origin and impact of marine (ed.) Charrs, salmonid fishes of the processes and phenomena. genus Salvelinus. Dr. W. Junk Pub- lishers, The Hague. 928 p. Published by: Power, G. 1980. "The brook charr, Salvelinusfontinalis. "p. 141-203. In Communications Directorate E.K. Balon (ed.) Charrs, salmonid Department of Fisheries and Oceans fishes of the genus Salvelinus. Dr. W. Ottawa, Ontario Junk Publishers, The Hague. 928 p. KlA 0E6

Scott, W.B., and E.J. Crossman. 1973. DFO/4650 UW/58 Freshwater fishes of Canada. Fish. Res. Board. Can. Bull. 184: 966 p. ©Minister of Supply and Services Canada 1988 Text: Cat. No. Fs 41-33/58-1988E P.M. Ryan ISBN 0-662-16494-6 Department of Fisheries and Reprinted 1991 Oceans Fisheries Research Branch Aussi disponible en français P.O. Box 5667 St. John's, Newfoundland AlC 5Xl

Illustrations: H. Mullet and P .M. Ryan

Department of Fisheries and Oceans Printed on recycled paper Fisheries Research Branch P.O. Box 5667 St. John's, Newfoundland AlC 5Xl

Others in the series: AJewife Atlantic Pelagic and Haddock Redfish (Ocean Perch) Thomy and Smooth Skates American Eel Diadromous Fish lrish Moss Rockfish Turbot (Greenland Halibut) Arnerican Oyster Atlantic Salmon LakeTrout Roundnose Grenactier Walleye American Plaice Atlantic Shellfish Lingcod Sand Lance White Hake American Shad Atlantic Snow Crab Lumpfish Sea Cucumber Winter Flounder American Smelt Beluga Marine Fish Eggs Sealing - A Canadian Witch Flounder Bluefin Tuna and Larvae Perspective Yellowtail Flounder Arctic Cod Bowhead Whale Narwhal Sea Scallop Atlantic Cod Capelin Northem Shrimp Selected Freshwater Fish Atlantic Fishing Methods Cetaceans of Canada Pacific Salmon Selected Shrimps of Atlantic Groundfish Crabs of the Atlantic Pollock British Columbia Atlantic Halibut Coast of Canada Red Hake Soft-Shell Clam Atlantic Herring Dungeness Crab Red Sea Urchin Spiny Dogfish Atlantic Mackerel Grey Seal Red Tides Squid