14 FISHES OF THE CONNECTICUT LAKES. 



Third Lake. — This lake was estimated to be about three-fourths 

 of a mile in its longest diameter, which extends about north and 

 south, and about one-fourth mile east and west directly across the 

 middle. There are no large inlets, but several spring brooks enter it 

 at various points. In times of high water these brooks are doubtless 

 much larger, but at the time of this visit they were practically dry in 

 many places or, in some instances, trickling underground. The 

 principal affluent is Main Inlet, entering the southwest corner. The 

 immediate surrounding country is more abiaiptly hilly or mountain- 

 ous than that of either of the other lakes. 



The lake is very uniformly deep, there being but a narrow shelf 

 of really shallow water except in some small coves like those of Main 

 Inlet and the outlet. In these places there is some aquatic vegeta- 

 tion; off Main Inlet there is a considerable growth of pondweed. 

 Inside of this the bottom on the sandy shelf supports a profuse 

 growth of pipewort. The maximum depth found was 103 feet, and 

 there seemed to be a very general depth of 80 to 100 feet. 



The fishes observed in Third Lake and outlet just below the lake 

 were: Sucker {G. commersonii) , mud chub, longnose dace, blacknose 

 dace, chub-miimow, and trout. It is said that cusk and eels occur in 

 the lake. 



Fourth Lake. — Many have heard of, but few have seen. Fourth 

 Connecticut Lake. Some, claiming to know, maintain that it is at 

 the head of a small brook entering the northwest corner of Third 

 Lake. Others who have seen it affirm that the lake is nothing but 

 a " mud puddle " at the head of Third Lake Main Inlet. Some maps 

 show one good-sized pond at the head of one or the other of these 

 brooks; others represent two ponds, one at the head of each. In 

 order to ascertain the facts, both brooks were explored to their very 

 heads. Main Inlet a short distance from Third Lake is formed by 

 three branches, two of which proceed from spring or swamp ground, 

 the other, the largest and more brook like, from higher ground. 

 Perhaps 2 miles westward of Third Lake the latter brooklet rises in 

 a shallow mud pond, 75 or 80 feet in diameter, and full of aquatic 

 plants. The water is cold, originating in springs. No fishes were 

 found there. 



The brook entering the northwest corner of Third Lake was fol- 

 lowed until no stream remained to be traced. At perhaps a mile 

 from the lake three small rivulets, swelled by springs, unite to form 

 the brook. Each one of these branches was followed to its last drop 

 of water, but no pond was found. 



It is probable that the pool at the head of Main Inlet is the only 

 " Fourth Lake." The inlets of Third Lake are all so small a short 

 distance from the lake that any one of them can be stepped across 



