52 FISHES AND FISHING IN SUNAPEE LAKE. 



lowing extract regarding the trout is of interest in this connection, 

 indicating that but a few trout were supposed to be left in the lake : 



In 1884 many complaints were made to your commissioners regarding the illegal 

 destruction of the trout in this lake during the breeding season. 



During the months of October and November it was said that the trout came into 

 the brooks in large numbers, where they were killed with nets, spears, guns, and 

 clubs. An investigation was made, and the commissioners were convinced that the 

 complaints were well founded. It was proved beyond a doubt that it had been the 

 custom to kill every trout that could be found either upon the spawning beds or 

 attempting to reach them. It was evident that something must be done in order to* 

 save the few brook trout remaining in the lake. * * * 



Three of these poachers were caught in the act. * * * Since that time no 

 attempt has been made to interfere with the work being done, and so marked has been 

 the increase that one night last season 40 trout were taken weighing from 1 to 6 pounds 

 each, and eggs enough to fill the house to its utmost capacity were easily obtained, 

 and the number taken might have been doubled had there been room for them. 



Twenty thousand landlocked salmon eggs were taken and more could have been 

 secured if there had been room for them in the house. 



The report for 1888 states that the water was unusually high and 

 most of the trout were taken in pound nets set at the mouths of the 

 brooks. It is stated that eggs were taken from trout of from 1 to 7 

 pounds. 



The report for 1891 says the number of brook trout taken was 

 much larger than the previous year. 



The following is quoted from the report for 1892: 



The first brook trout [at Sunapee] were taken September 13. The large increase in 

 the number of these trout taken this year shows the effect of the heavy plants made the 

 last four years, the number being double that taken last year. 



The report of the Sunapee Station for 1892 says that the first trout 

 were taken September 14 and that there was a large increase of salmon, 

 but that, owing to stormy weather, not as many brook trout were 

 secured as last year. 



The biennial report for 1893 and 1894 indicates that 250,000 

 "brook trout" eggs were taken at Sunapee Lake in 1893 and 45,000 

 in 1894. Regarding the conditions in 1894 the report says: 



Owing to the extreme low water, both at Sunapee Lake and Pleasant Pond, our 

 product of landlocked salmon and brook trout eggs is not more than half what it would 

 have been under favorable conditions. 



And in another place: 



Previous to the existence of the commission there were almost no fish, of the better 

 varieties, in that beautiful lake [Sunapee]. To-day as a direct result of the labors of 

 the commission, it abounds in beautiful brook trout, many specimens of which are 

 taken each season, weighing from 3 to 6 pounds each, and this magnificent fish abounds 

 in those waters to such an extent that no sportsman possessing a fair degree of skill and 

 a reasonable amount of patience, can cast his line therein without a reasonable 

 reward for his labors. 



The following is a chronological list of the records of plants of the 

 common trout in Siuiapec Lake and tributaries as shown by the 

 State and United States Fish Commission reports : 



