No. 112. 1 747 



of these fires. The smelt, a small but very fine fish, of marine 

 origin and migratory iiabits, have recently appeared in the lake 

 and are taken through the ice in great quantities. A species of 

 sturgeon of a considerable size, is frequently caught in seines. 

 Varieties of the bass and pike, are amoBg the most valuable fish, 

 and are taken in great numbers. Many of the lake fish are highly 

 esteemed, and secured in ice, are exported by railroads to the 

 southern cities and watering places, where they command exor- 

 bitant prices. 



The fisheries of Lake Champlain, and the interior waters of its 

 vicinity, fostered by the existing facilities of access to markets, 

 and which will continually augment, must rapidly acquire great 

 importance and value. The fish of the lake afforded to the early 

 settlers of the valley, (who were often in their isolated position, 

 subjected to serious destitution,) an easy and relialle resource. 



Trolling is a favorite and highly exciting sport of the amateur 

 fishermen upon these waters. This m<ide is adapted to deep wa- 

 ter, and is conducted by towing the line some distance behind 

 the boat, in a sea somewhat agitated. Fish, of extraordinary di- 

 mension?, are thus frequently taken in large numbers. 



Fishing by seines and nets, is much and successfully used in 

 the lakes and more important streams. Several varieties of the 

 most delicate and choice trout, occur in great profusion, in most 

 of the iniuunerable ponds and lakes which are scattered among 

 the fi)rests and mountains of the interior. The salmon trout is 

 peculiarly distinguished for the great size it attains, and the sur 

 perior delicacy and excellence of its qualities. 



• 



No country offers to the si)ortsnmn more delightful and diversi- 

 fied attractions, than this region of lakes and poiids. It is derply 

 to be deplored, that the same barbarous and rutliless ini]<rovi- 

 dence that is depo])ulaling, with such lapidity, the foresis of d(er, 

 is hastening the extinction of the trout in lliese waters. They 

 arc not only pursued in ult< r ^^unlonnes^, and in the j'ussion of 

 destruction at the legitimate seasons, but they are nKrciles>ly fol- 

 lowed by the net, the fiy and the spear, to their spawning bed, 

 where, in the extinction of one life, th« embiyo of millious is 



