| One hundred and fifty years ago, "sea trout" of the | | | | removed for several years until runs collapsed. |
| Atlantic provinces included two species, Salvelinus | | | | Poaching was rampant. The situation grew so |
| alpinus, and Salvelinus fontinalis. | | | | extreme that at least one province hired an inspector |
| Arctic char (S. alpinus) now exist in small numbers in | | | | for several years in the 1860s to report on the |
| New Brunswick and Gaspé, and more | | | | condition of rivers and their fisheries. |
| substantial populations inhabit Newfoundland, northern | | | | I believe that a sea-run speckled or brook trout's life is |
| Quebec, and Labrador. "Speckled" or "brook" trout (S. | | | | variable, depending upon the state of rivers and |
| fontinalis) are widespread, from Labrador south to the | | | | estuaries, and far more complex than White was able |
| Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina. | | | | to document. For example, speckled trout in many |
| These days, "sea trout" in eastern waters can include | | | | Maritime estuaries are the unofficial targets of a winter |
| introduced brown trout (Salmo trutta) or transplanted | | | | ice fishery ostensibly for smelt. One "respected" |
| rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Sea-run | | | | member of the local community bragged of taking |
| rainbows are called "steelhead" in Western Canada. | | | | more than 50 large sea-run speckled trout in the |
| Browns and rainbows were introduced in the late | | | | estuary associated with the river where I operated a |
| 1800s. Both species have established breeding | | | | fish fence. His illegal winter catch amounted to more |
| populations in parts of the east. | | | | than the entire May sea-trout run on the river later that |
| Saltwater is a lifestyle choice for many salmonids born | | | | year! There's little question why these fish are gone. |
| with downstream access. The term "landlocked" is | | | | White's observation that Moser River sea-run speckled |
| often misapplied to populations that live in fresh water | | | | trout descend to the estuary in spring and return to the |
| by choice. Sometimes downstream or upstream | | | | river from the estuary in mid-summer might now be |
| passage is blocked. In other cases these landlocked | | | | altered by acid rain, persistent summer droughts and |
| species, like the Atlantic salmon of the Shubenacadie | | | | low, warm water conditions in our rivers. Sea trout |
| River, have the option to leave, but some choose to | | | | summer survival depends upon deep, cool, oxygenated |
| stay in freshwater. This usually happens when | | | | fresh water. They can tolerate an acidity range of 5, |
| freshwater habitats offer abundant food resources | | | | but prefer a pH of 6 or better. For that reason, sea |
| and other elements critical for survival. On the | | | | trout will seek out gypsum sinks on a river for their |
| Shubenacadie, fall spawners come from the Bay of | | | | moderated acidity and cool temperatures. In more and |
| Fundy and from lakes. There are some genetic | | | | more watersheds, the cold water layer that forms in |
| differences, but it's hard to determine if saltwater | | | | deep lakes during the summer no longer serves as a |
| habits are habitat-driven or destined by genes. There | | | | refuge for these fish. It becomes oxygen-depleted |
| may be a genetic propensity driving some folks to buy | | | | from excessive amounts of organic nutrients-added |
| Volvos. | | | | as cottage effluents, farm pollutants, golf course |
| Speckled trout remain a common freshwater fish in | | | | sprays, and runoff from other human "developments." |
| Atlantic Canada. Many trout stay inland and never | | | | Cold water summer refuges in lakes and rivers have |
| descend to estuaries. However, if seasonal habitats | | | | become limiting factors to sea trout. Agriculture, |
| become limited or if juvenile populations become | | | | forestry, and other land-clearing operations have |
| ovecrowded in small streams, competition for limited | | | | altered rivers. Wide and shallow, they flush after rains |
| food and space in relatively short, sterile Atlantic rivers | | | | like toilets, and offer fewer holding pools for large fish |
| might prompt a young trout to journey downstream to | | | | in mid-to-late summer. |
| the estuary. Sea-run speckled trout moved north, | | | | To determine if sea run speckled trout travel in the |
| colonizing new rivers as the glacial ice sheet receded | | | | open ocean, I purchased herring nets for a local friend |
| about 12,000 years ago. The fresh water form most | | | | and commercial fisherman with the understanding that |
| likely evolved from sea-run ancestors. | | | | any trout by-catch would be reported. He found that |
| What is the sea life of a brook trout? Sixty years ago, | | | | large sea-run speckled trout do occupy the open sea, |
| H.C. White studied a population near the Moser River, | | | | far from shore, and away from islands. There also |
| on Nova Scotia's eastern shore. He found they | | | | appears to be some movement along the coast. |
| descended that river during April and May, when they | | | | Tagged rainbow trout released as 20cm (8 in.) fish into |
| were angled in the inner estuary in large numbers. In | | | | the South River, Antigonish County have shown up in |
| the harbour they fed upon minnows, elvers, isopods, | | | | Bonne Bay, Newfoundland, and on the north shore of |
| amphipods, and sand worms. On average these trout | | | | Quebec. |
| spent about two months (64.5 days) of the year at | | | | Brown trout are well adapted to estuaries and live |
| sea. Some wandered 13 km (8 miles) or more from | | | | longer than speckled trout. I've tagged individuals that |
| their home stream, and even ascended other streams. | | | | eventually returned to tip the scales at more than 6 kg |
| Local fishermen reported seeing schools of trout in | | | | (13.2 lb.). Personal angling experience has taught me |
| water 1.5 to 3 m (5-10 ft) deep around the inner islands | | | | that some large browns ascend rivers each spring |
| off the coast near Moser River. Trout were also | | | | after spending the winter in estuaries or at sea. I catch |
| observed in groups around some private wharves on | | | | them heading upstream with a flesh colour that |
| the mainland coast where fish were being cleaned. | | | | indicates a saltwater diet. After a summer in the river, |
| White documented that sea-run speckled trout travel in | | | | they are not as deeply-coloured-¬or as tasty! |
| schools along the coast, feeding upon various fish | | | | Most sea-run speckled and brown trout are particularly |
| species and crustaceans. Trout were observed | | | | vulnerable after ice-out in early spring. Those that |
| darting about as if feeding, while schools moved | | | | escape the winter's gauntlet of ice fishing shacks |
| quickly past. Schools usually had the same size trout, | | | | congregate at the mouths of our rivers with other trout |
| probably a reflection that large trout have a tendency | | | | and Atlantic salmon that have moved downstream. |
| to eat small trout. White also noted fewer schools of | | | | Here rainbow smelt amass before upriver migrations. |
| larger fish. Many were angled from clear sea water | | | | Rising water temperatures and concentrated prey |
| along rocky shores. Their backs were a light | | | | mean that hungry trout begin seriously feeding. They |
| blue-green, sides silvery and bellies pearl-white. This | | | | are too easily caught by anglers using bait. |
| colouration blended with the background so well that | | | | While studying to become a biologist at an Atlantic |
| they were hard to see. | | | | university, I was once invited by friends to swing |
| Several studies report that speckled trout in the ocean | | | | salmon (using gill nets illegally at night in a pool). I |
| eat rainbow smelt, Atlantic silversides, and juvenile | | | | declined the offer. Nets are still used by greedy, |
| hake, as well as shrimp, amphipods, isopods , and | | | | thoughtless people to catch salmon and sea trout on |
| terrestrial beetles. Sea-run speckled trout grow fast, | | | | rivers where populations persist. The river near my |
| reaching 2.7 kg (6 lb.) or more. | | | | university empties into the Bay of Fundy, where |
| How common were sea-run speckled trout? I studied | | | | Atlantic salmon stocks have all but collapsed. The |
| one eastern Nova Scotian river with a tradition of | | | | problem is not just "at-sea mortality." |
| fishing sea trout on the long weekend in May. One | | | | While poachers still ply the rivers, we've an equally |
| senior citizen recalled travelling a whole day by horse | | | | sorry history of commercial fishery management. |
| and wagon from a nearby county to get to this river in | | | | Fishermen blame governments for rules that aren't fair, |
| the 1920s. She and her father spent a day catching | | | | don't fit or make sense. Politicians have too often |
| sea trout and loading them into the wagon, then a day | | | | ignored the science and warnings of some fishermen |
| to return home. When I operated a fish fence above | | | | over matters like the northern cod, while other |
| the mouth of that same river in the 1980s, during the | | | | fishermen empty the oceans. I fear that sea trout |
| two-week period centred around that long weekend, | | | | have been, and will continue to be, a victim of blind |
| we caught fewer than four dozen trout. In 60 years | | | | commercial technologies that quietly kill and dump too |
| the sea trout population plummeted from wagon-loads | | | | many non-target species. |
| to a few dozen. The legend lives on, but not the run. | | | | Sea-trout stocks in Atlantic Canada are mere |
| Tough times for sea trout began in the latter half of | | | | shadows of their former selves, reduced by |
| the 19th century, when forest cutting and land clearing | | | | overfishing and habitat losses. Smelt shack devotees |
| in the Maritimes reached a peak. Many eastern rivers | | | | and spring "meat" fishermen should rethink their |
| and streams were straightened to facilitate log and | | | | attitudes. Stiffer legislation is necessary to give |
| pulp drives. Dams for water-powered mills were built | | | | sea-trout populations a much-needed human predator |
| upstream from estuaries. Rules of the day required | | | | "break." |
| fish ladders, but few operable ones existed. Mill waste | | | | There is hope. Fish & game, river associations, |
| was deliberately dumped and frequently clogged | | | | and other conservation groups are restoring aquatic |
| channels downstream. Sea-run trout, smelt, gaspereau, | | | | habitats for sea trout and Atlantic salmon in eastern |
| salmon and others on annual spawning runs moved | | | | rivers-in spite of mediocre federal support. Beyond the |
| upstream to find passage blocked by the first dam. | | | | shadow of a trout, this is a worthy cause! |
| There they were pitch-forked, netted, or otherwise | | | | |