BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 375 



their reproductive functions was not yet established. The latter plan 

 was finally adopted, and in 1871 the first attempt at this method of 

 breeding salmon was instituted by the commissioners of Maine, Massa- 

 chusetts, and Connecticut. The site fixed upon for an inclosure was at 

 Craig's Pond Brook in the town of Orland, and arrangements for a sup- 

 ply of fish were made with two fishermen of Verona at the very mouth 

 of the river. 



The salmon first brought were confined in a newly constructed arti- 

 ficial pond in the brook, which was of such remarkable purity that a 

 small coin could be distinctly seen at the depth of 7 feet. All of these 

 died except a few which after a short stay were removed to other quar- 

 ters. The most prominent symptom was the appearance of a white 

 fungoid growth in patches upon the exterior of the fish. In a lake 

 (locally designated as Craig's Pond) of equal purity, but greater depth, 

 several of these diseased fish recovered. Of the salmon later obtained 

 some were placed in an inclosure of nets in the edge of a natural pond 

 with but 7 feet of water, of average purity, some in a shallow inclosure 

 in a brook, and some turned loose in a natural lake of some GO acres 

 area, with muddy bottom and peat-colored water. In each case the 

 salmon passed the summer with few losses, arrived at the breeding sea- 

 son in perfect health, and yielded at the proper time their normal 

 amount of healthy spawn and milt, though the great sacrifice of breed- 

 ing fish by the early experiments of the season reduced the crop of 

 eggs to the small number of 72,000. 



The conditions of success were thus sufficiently indicated, and in 1872 

 the same parties, joined with the United States Commission of Fisheries, 

 renewed operations on a larger scale, locating their headquarters at the 

 village of Bucksport, confining the breeding salmon in Spofford's Pond 

 (Salmon Pond on the general map of Penobscot station), and establish- 

 ing their hatchery on the brook formed by its overflow. This is the lake 

 of GO acres in which, as mentioned above, a few salmon had been suc- 

 cessfully confined the year before. Though not at all such water as 

 would be chosen by a salmon at large, it nevertheless proved well 

 adapted to the purpose of an inclosure for the breeding fish. It was 

 shallow, its greatest depth, at the season of highest water, being but 1G 

 feet; at its upper end it abuts against an extensive swamp, and almost 

 its entire bottom, except close to the shore, is coin posed of adepositof soft, 

 brown, peaty mud of unknown depth. The water is strongly colored 

 with peaty solutions, has a muddy flavor, and under the rays of a sum- 

 mer sun becomes warmed to 70° (Fahrenheit) at the very bottom.* Yet 

 in such a forbidding place as this, salmon passed the summer in perfect 

 health. There were some losses, but every reason to believe them all 

 to have been caused by injuries received prior to their inclosure. Du- 



*During the mouth of August, 1872, the bottom temperature at 1 p. m. was never 

 below 70 c , and on six days was found to be 71°. 



