FISHES AND FISHINO IN SUNAPEE LAKE. 37 



the 18th there was a lieavy downpour of rain. The following morn- 

 ing the net contained 18 young chinooks, which gives some support 

 to the idea that these young fish enter the lake after a heavy rain. 



Subsequently larger numbers were found in the net, but the num- 

 ber at any time represented but a small portion of those that had 

 been planted, even in the last deposit. 



During the sprmg and summer the stomachs of young chmooks 

 of the broolcs were exammed in order to ascertabi the character and 

 quantity of food. One taken April 17, 1910, contained caddis larvae 

 and a lot of smelt eggs. During August, 1911, young taken in the 

 fyke net contained small insects, mostly Diptera. 



Having examined the shore water of the lake and the water of 

 various parts of the brooks in regard to food supply for young salmon, 

 it was decided that the brooks, especially Pike Brook, were preferable 

 to the lake for the purpose of planting young salmon, not only on 

 account of the greater food supply of the brooks but their com- 

 parative freedom from enemies. That there were some enemies, 

 even in the brooks, was evident. At one tim.e two kingfishers were 

 observed industriously catching small fish, presumably young salmon, 

 just above the dead water. On two occasions some trout were 

 opened and found to have been feeding upon recently planted 

 chinooks. One 10-mch trout contained sLx salmon in various stages 

 of digestion. 



Silver Salmon {Oncorhynchus MsutcJi) . 



The silver salmon, laiown in Alaska as "coho," has its geographical 

 range from San Francisco probably to the Yukon and on the Asiatic 

 coast south to Japan.. It reaches a weight of 15 pounds and averages 

 perhaps 8 or 9 pounds. It is especially abundant in Puget Sound, 

 where it is frequently caught by trolling, and it is stated that these fish 

 take herring bait the year round in Puget Sound and bays of Alaska, 

 and on the offshore banks. 



The silver salmon ascends streams, but not so far as some chinooks, 

 and the breedmg runs are later in tlie season. Like the chinook, 

 all die after the breeding function is performed. 



The adult fish subsists largely upon other fishes, particularly those 

 that s^\^m in scliools, such as the herring, smelts, sand laimces, etc. 

 In fresh water the young up to the fingerhng stage feed mamly upon 

 insects and the aquatic larvae of insects, and fingerlings have been 

 found containmg small fishes and fish eggs. Yearlings in salt water 

 also subsist largely upon smaller fishes. 



It is a good food fish, for packing ranking third of tlie five species 

 of tlie genus Oncorhynchus. It is also a ganiy fighter, but does not 

 excel the eastern landlocked salmon. As it is a voracious fish eater, 

 nothing can be gained by its introduction int(^ Siuiapee Lake. 



