HAMLIN ON THE SALMON OF MAINE. 349 



salmon fry. As tbe little parr progresses in life, many characteristics 

 are laid aside, and only those which mark the species are retained ; the 

 parr- markings, the red spots, and most of the dark ones, especially 

 nearly all of those below the lateral line, vanish. The dentition changes. 

 The adult trout retains only the mesial vomerine teeth in a double row; 

 the salmon loses all the mesial vomerine teeth and retains only those of 

 the chevron. 



The Salmo Glove)% described by Girard as frequenting Union River in 

 the State of Maiue, is only a i^arr, and is caught in other rivers where 

 the salmon appears. The samlet may remain several years longer than 

 its usual period at the place of birth when debarred or impeded in its 

 access to the sea, and may spawn and propagate a stunted race, as ill-fed 

 animals are checked in their growth and remain stationary. Nearly all 

 of the iSalmonido} breed early in life, and size has no effect upon the 

 faculty of breeding, the essential difference being as to number — a 

 thousand eggs being reckoned to every pound-weight of the fish. The 

 differences in position of fins in the Gloveri are trivial compared with 

 those which we witness in the young of many other animals during 

 their period of growth. 



About forty years ago fresh-water salmon were caught in great num- 

 bers in Sebago Lake. The Indians in earlier times speared them in 

 immense quantities in autumn on the shoals below the outlet ; the early 

 colonists caught them by the cartload during the spawning-period, but 

 the thoughtlessness and carelessness of civilization have reduced them 

 so much in number that they are now quite rare. Still, a few may be 

 taken with the minnow as they run up the rivers in spring, or by trol- 

 ling in the lake, off the rocky shore known as the " Image," which was 

 a famous place of resort years ago. In the autumn they again pass 

 into the rivers, and may then be taken with the fly. Some weighing 

 thirteen and a half pounds have been taken with the minnow. Last 

 summer one was caught of ten pounds weight. Others of much greater 

 weight have been speared at night while in the act of spawning. The 

 spear in the hands of the poacher has contributed more than any other 

 cause to the scarcity of this fish. Two years ago two poachers speared 

 in three nights in Songo River more than half a ton of salmon. No fi-sh, 

 however prolific, can long stand such a drain as this upon its numbers. 

 A little protection and care in artificial breeding would make this lake, 

 with its connecting streams, one of the most delightful places of resort 

 for the angler in the world. Down below the outlet the water of the 

 lake, which is of the purest quality, rushes swiftly down and over prim- 

 itive ledges, and forms magnificent pools and eddies, which are the 

 favorite resorts of trout and salmon. One bright morning last June 

 found me rod in hand and casting the fly at the locality above mentioned, 

 but it was too early in the- season, and the gaudy insects failed to attract 

 even a glance from the lurking fish. I substituted a minnow, and trolled 

 him across the boiling eddies below. A whirl in the foam, a splash of 



