ALASKA
FOk YOUR
* INFORMATION
A few weeks ago in the Adak Sun, the Dolly Varden was passed over lightly in
tho general discussion of the family Salmonidae* It was stated in that aiticle
that the Dolly Varden was and still is a char which is a cousin of the trout*
However, as everyone thinks of the Dolly Varden as a trout, I will continue to
use that name here*
The Dolly Varden trout, tho most abundant trout in Alaska, received it’s name
from the color of the dress worn by a character of the same nemo in Dickens’ nov
el "Barnaby Rudge", It is a West Coast specie naturally confined to streams emp
tying into" the Pacific* Golden fin, bull trout, and mountain Dolly are local
names for this fish which may vary widely in appearance owing to local conditions
It is one trout which has never been widely distributed or propagated as have
other species, It is largely looked down 'oon by western fishermen who condemn
it for it’s spawn-eating habits, a rather ui "air attitude since other trout eet
sapwn almost as extensively as do the Dolly Varden, Studies indicate that it
usually eats drifting eggs that would be lost anyway* Also, the Dolly Varden has
to compete in it’s native waters with both Cutthroats and Rainbow Tr^ut, both of
which are somewhat more spectacular fighters*
Many sport fishermen won’t try for the Dolly because of its* supposed lack of
fightc Actually it has every bit as much fight as the eastern brook trout* It
ranges in length up to $0 inches, and Dolly of 7 to 10 pounds are not unoommon in
the larger streams* There are both migratory Dolly Vardens that run to sea and
back, and residents that remain in fresh water* The fish can be caught in either
fresh or salt water. It takes flies, spinners, and other lures readily (wobblers,
such as the Red Devil, are taken avidly), and will strike at any lure that will
take other trout* It ia s mowhat less particular in its’ diet than others. When
hooked, it usually puts up a good fight, but like the brook, fights under wat^r
rather than on the surface as the Rainbow often does.
Despite tho prejudice against it, tho flesh is as good as other fishj In fact,
when cooked with Rainbows, it is almost impossible to select from a platter a
piece of one fish or another, although the Dolly’s flesh pends to be somewhat
redder and more salmon-like than most other trout. However, this is a seasonal
characteristic and cannot bo depended upon to distinguish it, since the meat of
the Dolly may range from white to a rod, almost equivalent to that of the red
salmon*
Were this fish not so closely associated with the more spectacular Rainbow, it
would unquestionably bo more highly valuode