42 FISHES AND FISHING IN SUNAPEE LAKE. 



planted by the State, presumably from Sunapee salmon eggs, in 1889 

 was 75,000; in 1890 an increase of 20,000 appears; then a gradual 

 falling off, in 1891 reduced to 65,000; 1900,35,000; 1902, none at all; 

 but in 1903, 20,000, and in 1904, 3,000, probably from eggs taken 

 elsewhere. 



The catches of the United States fisheries station party show a 

 rapid decline in the number of landlocked salmon obtainable in 

 Sunapee Lake for propagation purposes. This is doubtless due to 

 two things: First and directly, to the inability of the fish to find 

 suitable spawning waters. At one time it seems to have been possible 

 for them as well as the trout to enter Pike Brook, but later, owmg to 

 low water in the lake and in the brook, too, without doubt, the 

 salmon were unable to enter the brook. The secondary cause, 

 depending upon the first, is the fewer young planted each succeeding 

 year. Yet there are some landlocked salmon in the lake, though 

 they are fast disappearing, as they have no natural breeding grounds 

 and are gradually caught or die naturally. 



Habits. — The salmon requires for breeding a gravelly bottom with 

 cool running water, and while it is known sometimes to deposit its 

 spawn along shores of the lake, it is doubtful if more than a few eggs, 

 if any, hatch. The salmon ascends streams to the spawning beds, 

 where it forms its ''nest" some time before it is ready to deposit its 

 spawn. In some waters it enters the streams early m September 

 and the State Fish Commission reports indicate that it was found 

 entering the brook or attempting to do so in the latter part of Sep- 

 tember in Sunapee Lake. The spawning takes place in the latter 

 part of October to some extent, but mainly in November. The eggs 

 hatch in the spring and the young remain in the streams until they 

 attain a length of 4 or 5 and even in a great many mstances 8 or 10 

 inches, thus not subjecting themselves to the dangers that beset 

 very small fish in the lake. If the spawning beds where the fish are 

 hatched are in a large stream, when able to swim the young make 

 their way upstream or into smaller running tributary brooks, if there 

 are any, in this respect just like the species progenitor, the ''sea sal- 

 mon." A few young "landlocks" were observed in 1910 and 1911 

 in Pike Brook. On April 28, 1910, one fingerling was seen in Pike 

 Brook and on August 12 three about 2 inches long were caught in 

 Blodgett Big Brook. On July 29, 1911, several about 8 inches long 

 were caught by means of hook and line in Pike Brook, and on Novem- 

 ber 3 one was taken with the outrun of trout from Pike Brook. 



The adult salmon is primarily a fish eater, but it also subsists 

 largely upon insects that fall upon the water and aquatic larvae of 

 insects. In its natural habitat the smelt is its principal food and 

 no landlocked salmon ever occurred naturally where there were no 

 smelts. In fact, the spring runs of the sea salmon seem to be in pur- 

 suit of food to some extent at least, and on the Maine coast this is 



