THE ST. LAWRENCE RESERVATION. 8 1 



droughts the river is near its highest. 'Die water there is usually at its highest 

 stage some time during the months of June and July; and at its lowest, some time 

 during December or January. In some years it seems to vary more than in others; 

 and it is believed that the flood conditions of the great basin draining into the 

 upper lakes and eventually reaching the St. Lawrence have more effect on the height 

 of water there than local floods and droughts. It has been observed that a gale of 

 wind from the west on Lake Ontario raises the water in the river nearly a foot ; 

 while on the other hand a strong northeast wind on the lake lowers the water in the 

 river correspondingly. 



There is an excellent variety and good supply of fish in these waters. First of 

 all in the estimation of the sportsman is the Small Mouth Black Bass {Microptcrns 

 dolomitn\. It is not intended here to offer any dissertation on fish; but it seems 

 proper to mention that many sportsmen consider the Black Bass of the clear, cold 

 running water of the Thousand Islands the gamiest fish of its size that swims. As 

 they spawn during the latter part of May and in June, depending on the tempera- 

 ture of the water, fishing for them is not allowed here until the tenth of June, 

 when, generally, the most of them, or at least the older ones, have spawned. The 

 weather here, as at other places of the same latitude, is two or three weeks earlier in 

 some years than in others, and the temperature of the water is affected materially 

 by that of the atmosphere. If the water reaches the temperature of 65° by the 

 middle of May, Black Bass will be found on or about the gravel beds and shoals, 

 where they make their nests. If the water is not that warm until in June, bass will 

 not spawn until that time. This much is said in relation to this species of fish as it 

 is a question discussed continually by the guides, sportsmen and law makers. 



The Large Mouth Black Bass iyMicroptcrus salnioidcs Lacep.) also inhabits these 

 waters. They are not often found in the main part of the river, but may be found 

 in shallow bays and grassy bottom tributaries. They grow to greater size than the 

 Small Mouth Black Bass, are a coarser fish, and not considered desirable here. 



The next fish that we note as being a denizen of this water is the Wall-Eyed 

 Pike or Pike-Perch [Stizostcdioii vitrcum Mitch.). This fish is quite as plentiful as 

 the Black Bass, although but few of them are taken. They stay in deep water, thirty 

 feet or thereabout, and hence, on a lower level than the bass and other game fish. 

 To catch them one must fish in the current where the water is deep, and usually 

 near the head of some shoal or island. As they must be sought for in water below 

 the level of other species, rarely will any fish other than Wall-Eyed Pike be landed. 

 Their habits are much the same as those of the Small Mouth Black Bass, which 

 belongs to a nearly related family. The waters of the Thousatul Islands region 

 6 



