FISHES OF THE CONNECTICUT LAKES. 



41 



it comes into shoal water about the ishmcls and in the bays and coves. 

 In some waters this fish attains a weight of 10 pounds or more. The 

 Maine whitefish {C. lahradoi'lcus) , native also to some New Hamp- 

 shire waters, notably Lake Winnipesaiikee, ditfers somewhat in its 

 habits from the description above given. In the summer it is found 

 in cool water, usually in lakes, but not infrequently in streams. In 

 early evening it approaches the surface to feed upon small insects and 

 the like. 



The common whitefish is one of the most highly prized food-fishes 

 of fresh waters. In the Great Lakes it is most commonly caught in 

 gill-nets in the fall. It is said to be taken occasionally in those waters 

 on a baited hook or artificial fly. In northern Maine this is a common 

 occurrence with C. lahrado7'icns. The latter has been caught in Moose- 

 head Lake by deep fishing with bait and once in a while on a fly; in 

 the Fish River Eagle Lakes of Aroostook County it is taken by troll- 

 ing with small spoon and hooks baited with worms, and on small arti- 

 ficial flies. To angle successfully for whitefish a light flexible rod 



Fig. 2. — Maine whitefish. 



and small gauze-winged flies are desirable. The fish is gamy when 

 hooked and will out-rush, out-leap, out-twist, or out-maneuver any 

 other fish of its size. This sport is rendered still more exciting from 

 the care that must be exercised to retain the fish, since the small hook 

 that must be used is easily torn from the tender mouth. The Umba- 

 gog Lake whitefish which, as remarked before, are quite positively 

 the results of plants of Michigan Avhitefish made by either the Maine 

 or New Hampshire Fish Commission, or both, are caught by fish- 

 ing with small bait through the ice. 



14. QuiNNAT Salmox. Oncorhynchus tsehaicytscha (Walbaum). 



Plate VIII. 



Head 4 in length withont caudal; dorsal 11; anal 16; gill-rakers usually 

 9-fl4; branchiostegals 15 or 16 to IS or 19, the number on the 2 sides always 

 unlike; teeth comparatively small, longer on sides of lower jaw than in front; 

 vomerine teeth very few and weak, disappearing in the males. 



