J. PISCICULTURE AND THE FISHERIES. 403 



deeper waters of the lakes during the winter, and may run 

 up the rivers in the spring, as if from the ocean. 



REPORT OF MAINE FISFI COMMISSIONERS FOR 1871. 



The fifth report of Mr. Charles G. Atkins, Commissioner of 

 Fisheries for the State of Maine, has just made its appearance, 

 and, like its predecessors, embraces matter of much impor- 

 tance in the interest of pisciculture. For various reasons, the 

 labors of the commissioner during the past year were direct- 

 ed mainly to the question of salmon breeding, less attention 

 having been paid to the construction of fish-ways than in 

 former years, and nothing at all done in regard to the culti- 

 vation of species other than the salmon. 



For some time past the commissioners and the fish-cultur- 

 ists of the New England States and of New York have been 

 dependent for a supply of salmon eggs upon the establish- 

 ment of Mr. Wilmot, of Newcastle, Ontario, now under the 

 official direction of the Fishery Department of Canada ; but 

 the prices charged are so enormous namely, $40 in gold per 

 one thousand that it was considered best to attempt to se- 

 cure them from other sources, especially in view of the sug- 

 gestion that the Lake Ontario salmon are not true sea salmon, 

 but pass all their life in the fresh waters of that lake. For 

 this purpose the Penobscot River was selected, and, the States 

 of Massachusetts and Connecticut having expressed a readi- 

 ness to co-operate, the operations were commenced on the 

 7th day of June, 1871. The fish were taken in the weirs in 

 the vicinity of Bucksport, and transported to Craig's Pond 

 Brook, in Orland, which was supposed to be peculiarly fitted 

 for the purposes of breeding the fish. 



After various experiences, for which we must refer to the 

 report of the commissioner, about 72,000 eggs were obtained 

 and divided among the states mentioned, at an actual cost 

 of about $18 per thousand. It is thought by Mr. Atkins that 

 another season, with the experience of the past, they can be 

 obtained in any desirable quantity at $8 a thousand. 



Among the more important results of this experiment may 

 be stated that salmon can be kept in confinement in a small 

 inclosure from June to November, and that they will develop 

 their spawn and milt to perfect maturity. It was found that 

 they can live in any pond, river, or brook water, provided 



