FISHES OF THE CONNECTICUT LAKES. 



51 



places salmon trout. In the Great Lakes it is " namaycush," "Mack- 

 inaw trout," etc. As " Mackinaw trout " it has been introduced into 

 the Connecticut Lakes, although the same species w^as indigenous to 

 those waters. 



The lake trout is common over the northern part of the United 

 States as far west as Lake Superior and extends northward to the 

 Arctic regions. It occurs also in the Columbia and Frazer rivers and 

 on Vancouver Island, but in very limited numbers. In the Report of 

 the Fish and Game Commissioner of New Hampshire for 1892, page 

 77, it is stated "that this excellent food and game fish [Salvelinus 

 namaycush] is indigenous to only six of our lakes, viz, First and 

 Second Connecticut lakes, Squam Lake, Winnepesaukee Lake, includ- 

 ing AVinnisquam Bay, New Found Lake, and East Pond in Enfield." 

 No adults were secured in First Lake, but in Second Lake some were 

 taken. 



This fish is a frequenter of deep water, especially in the summer 

 time, approaching the shore or shoals at times for food, and in the 

 fall for spawning. It is a voracious feeder when it feeds, but like 

 other members of the salmon family it has its caprices, or at least, 

 periods when it will not take a hook. It eats small fishes of almost 

 any kind. Its spawning time is in September and October. Bean 

 says (op. cit.) a female of 24 pounds carries about 14,943 eggs, but 

 not over 5,000 and 6,000 as commonly found, and after the trout has 

 attained maturity at 3 years of age, 1,000 eggs to the pound of fish 

 may be accepted as a general rule. The eggs do not hatch until 

 spring, when the waters begin to warm. 



As a game fish it is not remarkable and it is inferior as a food 

 fish. Opinions and tastes differ, however, regarding these qualities. 

 The usual method of capture is by trolling in early summer, at other 

 times by still fishing with live or cut bait. Cut chub is considered a 

 good bait, and sometimes these morsels will be taken in preference to 

 a whole minnow or shiner. The lake trout seldom takes a hook be- 

 tween the last of June and first of September. This habit of re- 

 fraining from gratifying the angler or fisherman in summer while 

 the water is above a certain temperature, the degree of w^hich is not 

 definitely known, is common to other members of the salmon family. 



The records of the introduction of this fish into Connecticut Lakes, 

 under the names of lake trout and Mackinaw trout, are as follows: 



1898 8, 000 



1903 25, 000 



3904 25, 000 



1893 100, 000 



1894 ^ 25, 000 



1895 100, 000 



189G 80, 000 



Young of this species, which msiy be some of those recently planted, 

 or perhaps naturally hatched, were found in small tributary brooks 

 of First Lake as follows: 



