62 FISHES AND FISHING IN SUNAPEE LAKE. 



The fact that it was "never observed" prior to this time may be 

 a matter of not recognizing it as distinct from the common trout, 

 or as Dr. Quackenbos suggests (loc. cit.), "in the ignorance of the 

 few who in old times may ever have seen it, and who cared for 

 nothing beyond the fact that it was good to eat. " 



It is quite possible that before the smelts were introduced the 

 Sunapee white trout was small Uke the blueback of Rangeley Lakes, 

 on that account never taking the hook and never observed, as it did 

 not ascend the brooks to spawn; and that, like that species, it did 

 not attain a large size, until after the introduction of smelts, owing 

 to scarcity of food conducive to such growth. But there is no way 

 to prove this. 



That a fish may exist in a body of water for many years without 

 becommg generally known is not so strange as at first thought it 

 seems. Many resident fishermen and even nonresident anglers have 

 caught at times fish that were more or less strange in appearance. 

 In such cases they discuss the identity among themselves and per- 

 haps come to the conclusion that it is a freak form of some other fish, 

 which it to some extent resembles. When not accounted for m that 

 way it is usually ascribed to hybridization, or if a fish with which 

 they are not familiar has been introduced it is likely to be considered 

 that form. But seldom is it suggested that it is a hitherto unrecog- 

 nized species, and usually instead of sending it to some competent 

 authority for identification it is taken home and eaten or given to 

 the cat or hens. But when some more observing person detects a 

 hitherto unrecognized fish, many others remember that they have 

 caught the same thing at one time or another. Of course there are 

 instances of forgotten or accidental introductions of fish which when 

 discovered can not be definitely accounted for, but in most instances 

 such can be determined. The white trout, for instance, was at first 

 thought by some to be the result of a plant of some fish from the 

 St. Johns River, an account of which is given by Dr. Quackenbos (loc. 

 cit.). But it is well known that no such fish occurs in the St. Johns 

 River, and it w*as finally decided that the supposed St. Johns River 

 fish were landlocked sahnon from Grand Lake stream, Maine. 



Hahits and food. — The habits of the American saibling are essen- 

 tially like those of their European congener. They are what may be 

 termed deep-water fishes, at least in the southern part of their geo- 

 graphical range, occurring in shallow water, as a rule, only when the 

 water is cool, principally in the fall breeding time and early sprmg. 

 Occasionally m summer one may be seen at the surface in early even- 

 ing or on a cool, cloudy day, but it apparently does not remain there 

 long. Such appearances at the surface seem to be on account of 

 insects upon which the fish occasionally feeds. 



