FOREST, LAKE, AND RIVER 



ouananiche could not have ascended from the sea. 

 As to how they reached these or any other land- 

 locked waters, theories only can be advanced. 

 Two hypotheses present themselves, both of which 

 are far from being improbable or impracticable. 

 A great variety of water-fowl seek the waters of 

 northern Canada as breeding grounds, many species 

 feeding upon fish eggs from the spawning beds. 

 It is more than possible that in devouring large 

 quantities of eggs some would be voided uninjured 

 by the gastric juices, and be dropped in various 

 waters during the ceaseless journeyings of the fowl. 

 The eggs, having been previously impregnated, 

 would naturally hatch in due course. It is pos- 

 sible, also, that cranes or herons may serve as 

 carriers. As they are constantly wading in shallow 

 streams where the fish spawn, the eggs, owing to 

 their glutinous nature, might easily adhere to their 

 feet, to be washed off in other waters. 



The greatest enemy of the ouananiche is the 

 pike, (brochet), which is not only very plentiful 

 in Lake St. John waters, but attains great size. 

 Many fish are taken having fresh wounds resulting 

 from terrible attacks, while thousands are disfigured 

 with healed scars from injuries received from pike 

 in the past. Another enemy is the burbot, or ling, 

 which grows very large in Lake St. John. For- 



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