HAMLIN ON THE SALMON OF MAINE. 353 



As I have said before, the salmon occurs in five of our hxke-sy stems. 

 Although there are other lakes advantageously situated near the coast, 

 and much frequented in former times by salmon, yet they do not con- 

 tain the new variety, if variety we dare to term it. This singularity in 

 its distribution is another remarkable feature to be considered in its 

 study. 



Early in the month of May the fish in question passes into the inlets 

 and outlets in search of the smelts who have gone there to spawn. 

 Here it remains a few days, and then returns with the smelts to the 

 lakes. In June it again returns for a few days to the foaming currents 

 of the swift streams to enjoy the aerated water and rid itself of the 

 parasites which infest the still waters; for even fishes are troubled with 

 parasites. Sometimes they appear as little leeches, and stick to the gills 

 of the fish ; and then again we find them in other forms, and attached to 

 other parts of the body — in the eye, for instance, as is the case with the 

 shark. They also become diseased like land-animals, which fact did not 

 escape the notice of Aristotle two thousand years ago. One of my prizes 

 from Sebago Lake had a cataract in its left eye. 



In September the salmon again seeks the clear streams, where it 

 remains until the spawiiing-period is past, or until November. In May 

 it prefers for bait the minnow or smelt, but in June and autumn it will 

 readily take the fly, preferring the bright and the gaudy. 



We know of no places in America where the angler can be more grati- 

 fied with a fishing-rod in hand than among these lakes* If he be 

 skillful in casting the fly or trolling the minnow, he will be charmed and 

 astonished with his success in the great Schoodic Lakes, either in the 

 Chepeteueck or the Witteguerguagum. And at the same time, if he be 

 a lover of nature, he will find wild and lonely scenery, yet full of grandeur 

 and picturesque beauty, and all that is calculated to make a deep im- 

 pression upon the feelings and awaken the contemplative and reflective 

 powers. 



BANaoR, Me., Septemher 11, 1872. 



Dear Professor : Yours of the 4th is at hand. The number of 

 Lippincott's Magazine containing my article on the salmon is May, 

 1869. 



Since I wrote this article, I have satisfied myself that the non-migra- 

 tory salmon have been seen in the Schoodic, Penobscot, and Union River 

 waters only since forty years. Concerning the Sebago salmon, I am 

 not so positive, but am quite sure the variety is not one hundred years 

 old, or since the erection of impassable dams on its outlet. The Schoodic 

 salmon are about forty years old, and the old Indian hunters have given 

 me the precise time of their' appearance and the disappearance of the 

 migratory salmon, which coincides with the erection of impassable dams. 



* The Sebago, Sebec, Reed's, and the lakes of the two branches of the Saint Croix. 



S. Mis. 74 25 



