Show this to the fisheries biologists who claim that brookies only get about 8 or 9 inches max before they die of old age in small streams, and therefore think it's alright to keep them. In plunge pools over 5 feet deep brookies can reach this size and larger (I have seen them up to 17"), IF THEY ARE PROTECTED. The consumptive use of southern brookies makes as much sense as eating bluebirds in those streams that have good holding water.