THE LANDLOCKED SALMON. 



The landlocked salmon was formerly regarded as specifically distinct 

 from the seagoing form, but it is now generally considered only a vari- 

 ety. The fish found in Sebago Lake and other localities in the United 

 States is known as Salmo salar sehago, and the Canadian form as Salmo' 

 sahi7' ouananiclie. From the fish-culturist's point of view, however, the 

 marked difference between the landlocked and the seagoing salmon in 

 habits and growth must separate them as widely as any two species of 

 the same family. 



Landlocked salmon are known to exist only in some of the lakes in 

 Sweden, besides the lakes of eastern !N^orth America. They are native 

 to most of the lakes of eastern Labrador, including the waters tribu- 

 tary to L'ngava Bay, and find their western limit in Lake St. John and 

 vicinity, on the Saguenay Eiver. Those of the latter district have been 

 much written about under the name of '■'• onananiclie:^ 



Doubtless the absence of the migratory instinct is at the bottom of 

 most of the variations from the normal type of Salmo scdar which the 

 landlocked salmon exhibits. The lakes afford a far poorer feeding- 

 ground than the sea; hence, perhaps, the diminutive size and leaner 

 flesh of the landlocked salmon. Its lower tone of color, less permanent 

 sexual marks, and greater liability to ovarian disease, as well as differ- 

 ent habits of feeding, may perhaps be referable to the same general 

 cause. There are some other peculiarities, however, which are not so 

 easily explained. For instance, the eggs of the landlocked salmon are 

 considerably larger than those of the sea salmon, and the very young 

 fry are correspondingly larger. 



The growth of the young of the Sebago landlocked salmon seems to 

 be more rapid than that of the anadromous salmon, for some specimens 

 more than a foot long still bear on their sides dark, transverse bands, 

 characteristic of young salmon; but it may be that the landlocked fish 

 simply retain the marks of the immature stages to a later period of life. 

 This view is supported by the fact that the dark bands are never com- 

 pletely obliterated from the sides of the landlocked salmon, being always 

 very distinct, even in adult specimens, on the under side of the skin, a 

 character absent among migratory salmon. 



The landlocked salmon is smaller and more slender than the anadro- 

 mous salmon, but its flesh is fat and rich and of a very delicate flavor. 

 In game qualities it is, for its size, ([uite the i)eer of the larger salmon, and 

 affords keen sport to the fly fisherman. It is, therefore, much sought 

 after, and ranks in public favor among the foremost fresh- water species. 



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