2 Proceedings Port. Soc. Nat. Hist. 
ship in the south, and a few occasional stragglers from south- 
ward, and accidental visitors. From the appended lists it 
may be seen that there are 98 species that may be consid- 
ered almost or quite strictly marine. Of these but 17 are at 
present of any commercial value. .Of the 149 species, also, 
only 35 can be called strictly fresh-water forms, and some of 
these are so on account of physical restrictions. About 
fourteen or fifteen of these are food fishes of more or less 
importance and some of them highly esteemed game fishes. 
There are sixteen species of anadromous, katadromous, and 
those commonly occurring in either fresh or salt water. 
Maine was one of the first States to undertake fish culture. 
In 1867, the first State Fish Commission was appointed, since 
which time various species have been propagated and distrib- 
uted. Since 1872, the U.S. Fish Commission has co-operated 
in the work, and vast numbers of young fish have been planted 
in the waters of the State. Many depleted lakes and streams 
have been restocked with trout. Landlocked salmon have 
been introduced into many waters not before containing 
them, where they have become acclimated and increased in 
numbers. A number of species foreign to the State have 
also been introduced, but without pronounced success, so far 
as authentically known, except in the case of the black bass, 
which in suitable waters has proved a valuable food and 
game fish, and in others has become somewhat of a nuisance. 
By the aid of both well-meaning and mischievous persons, 
the pickerel has been spread over a wide area to which it 
was not indigenous. Smelts seem to have been a success in 
almost every instance of their introduction, in some lakes 
having wonderfully increased in numbers and size. 
Although the transplanting of excellent food and game 
fishes has been highly successful, the wisdom of indiscrimi- 
nate introduction of exotic forms into waters whose native 
species is all that can be asked for in size, food and game 
