Roger's Angling Pages
The Charr Salvelinus alpinus		Salmon family Salmonidae

The Latin term for this fish indicates its connections with the Alps, but in fact it is not found in this area. It is a typical circumpolar species from the northern hemisphere, where it can be found off the shores of North America, Greenland, Iceland, Spitsbergen, Novaya Zemlya, the Bear Islands, Sweden, northern Norway and Siberia.

The jaws extend well behind the eyes and its beautifully coloured body is covered with small scales. While at sea, its back is metal blue, and its sides and belly are silvery. The sides are speckled with cream spots. In fresh water the coloration is generally lighter. The males are more brightly coloured, especially during spawning. The ventral fins are orange and the subsequent pair of fins, including the single anal fin, are reddish orange with a white lining. After several years living in fresh water the fishes return to the sea. They do not stray far from the mouth of their native river, as shown by the fact that marked individuals have been caught at a mere distance of 12 to 24 miles from the river estuary.

In the breeding season the return trip to fresh water starts in July and culminates in August, although migratory types spawn much later. According to her size, the female lays several thousand eggs. The speed of growth depends on how nourishing the environment is. The basic food consists of larvae, insects, worms and fishes such as the Stickleback. In Hudson Bay migratory Charr are to be found, which are as much as 50 cm long when 10 years old, in contrast to sedentary fishes which grow considerably more slowly. Fishes as old as 25 years have also been caught.

The Charr's flesh is very tasty and is often the staple diet of Eskimos and their dogs. Where it is found it has an economic value. Angling methods are similar to those used for other fishes of the Salmon family.