FISHES OF THE CONNECTICUT LAKES. 11 



Numerous soundings revealed a maximum depth of about 47 feet. 

 From the middle to the east side there is considerable deep Avater. 

 Toward the outlet, west shore and north shore, the water shoals, 

 excepting that it deepens somewhat abruptly off the northeast point. 



The outlet cove contains a considerable growth of pond weed, and 

 the bottom in shallow water all around the pond bears a profuse 

 growth of pipew^ort. In the northwest portion there is shallow Avater 

 and muddy bottom, with a rather luxuriant groAvth of yellow pond 

 lily. In deep water in many places, even in the middle of the pond, 

 the bottom seems to be covered with a dense growth of fine, green 

 algae. The pond has no inlets, save some tiny rivulets from near-by 

 spring ground, and it is doubtless fed by subaqueous springs. 



The water is cold and, so far as we are able to judge, is well suited 

 to trout, of which, according to popular report, there are many in the 

 pond. Besides trout, there are also numerous chub-minnows, and 

 many water newts {Diemyctylus virideseens) , which were seen feed- 

 ing at the surface of the water, swimming up from the bottom, 

 taking insects, and immediately returning to the bottom. They made 

 little wakes at the surface that were at first thought to be caused by 

 some small fish. 



Trout are said to be caught near shore when biting well, especially 

 at the south and north ends of the pond. The few caught by us, how- 

 ever, Avere taken near the middle of the lake in about 25 feet of Avater. 



Main Inlet of First Lake. — This stream is the outfloAv of Second 

 Lake. It is about 4J miles in length and for a good part of its course 

 is swift and rocky, but there are some dead waters and deep pools. 

 It has a descent of about 200 feet betAveen First and Second lakes. 

 There are tAvo good-sized tributary streams. Coon Brook and Big 

 Brook, which are noAA% or Avere once, good trout streams. Coon Brook 

 is formed by the union of tAvo small branches some 3 or 4 miles, per- 

 haps, from Main Inlet. It is a clear, cool, rocky brook, much over- 

 grown with alders and other bushes, and in many places full of old 

 snags and fallen dead trees. 



Big Brook has its source in UnknoAvn Pond and floAvs southward 

 as a clear, cool, rocky stream to join Main Inlet about 2 miles beloAv 

 Second Lake. It is overgroAvn Avith bushes and in places full of old 

 logs like other woods brooks of this region. 



Main Inlet affords numerous excellent spaAvning grounds for the 

 various members of the salmon family. The loAver mile or so is still 

 water, with sand and mud bottom and abounding Avitli aquatic ])lants. 



The shores of this dead water are Ioav and muddy or sandy, coA^ered 

 with shore grasses and old stumps. The fishes of the inlet at the sea- 

 son of our visit consisted mainly of suckers, chubs, chub-minnoAvs, and 

 blacknose dace. The dace were most common in quick Avater; the 

 other species in quiet places, like pools and eddies. Most chubs and 

 suckers were found in the dead water at the loAver end of the inlet. 



