FISHES AND FISHING IN SUNAPEE LAKE. 65 



A female is stated to average about 1,200 ova to the pound of fish. 

 From fish-cultural operations it is observable that the eggs are not 

 always deposited at once, more than one and sometimes several strip- 

 pings being required to get all of the eggs. While tliis may possibly 

 be due to the abnormal conditions incident to their retention in live 

 cars, it is probably a natural condition. 



It is stated that white trout have been taken weigliing as high as 8 

 and even 10 pounds, but the largest of authentic record known to the 

 writer was 7 pounds. The average size of those taken by the Bureau 

 fish culturists in the fall of 1911 is estimated to be about 1 pound, 

 but there were some much larger and many considerably smaller 

 than this. 



It is not known how long after hatching the young remain upon 

 the shoal, but in summer young white trout of only a few inches in 

 length are taken on the same grounds with the large fish. 



Culture. — In the reports of the State commissioners no comments 

 are made regarding the spawnmg of white trout until the report of 

 1889, where it is stated that 200,000 were planted in May and June, 

 and "the aureolus were late in coming on then spawning beds; still 

 a fair number were taken, considermg the weather." The report for 

 1890 says that the fish came on their spawning grounds early in October 

 and that 100,000 eggs were taken. The report for 1891 says: "The 

 aureolus came on theii* spawning beds m October in large numbers 

 and many more were secured than last year." The report for 1893 

 has the following: " Of the aureolus more than twice the number were 

 taken [than last year], 148 having been procured m one day. Owing 

 to the fact that a large percentage were male fish, the amount of 

 spawn taken was but little over twice that laid down last year, being 

 105,000 last year and 218,000 this year." 



The succeeding reports state in tables the number of fish planted 

 and distributed. From these reports it appears that the State com- 

 mission took the fii'st white trout eggs m the fall of 1887 and made 

 the first plant, as previously mentioned, in 1888. The State commis- 

 sion operated at Sunapee Lake until about 1900, and in that time 

 planted 985,000 fry. In 1902 the United States Bureau of Fisheries 

 assumed the work as a field station. The first plant was made by the 

 Bureau in 1903, and the operations were continued until 1911. The 

 detailed lists of distribution in the reports of the Bureau show that 

 in this time 1,079,873 young white trout, mostly fry, were planted in 

 the lake. There are several years of which the State reports give no 

 records, presumably because no fish were planted. 



The table following shows the plants of fry in each year b} the 

 State and Federal hatcheries. 

 97705°— 13 5 



