FISHES AND FISHING IN SUNAPEE LAKE. 93 



planted in the best tributary brooks or kept iii retaining ponds until 

 large enough to look out for themselves to some extent in the lake- 

 Regarding the selection of brooks, it may be said that the tempera- 

 ture of King Hill Brook usually was from 1° to 2° higher than Pike 

 Brook m the running water and pools m the woods. The spring 

 pools were about the same as m Pike Brook, but the dead water, being 

 more open, was considerably higher than the dead water of Pike 



Brook. 



About the middle of August the woodland portion of Big Brook at 

 Blodgetts gave the same temperature as Pike Brook, i. e., 58°, and 

 Little Brook 2° lower. 



The temperature at Sunapee Brook did not vaiy much from Big 

 Brook at Blodgetts. 



From the foregomg data it would seem that Pike Brook is the best 

 brook and, m order, Blodgetts, Sunapee, and l\jng Hill Brooks next. 

 It is suggested that only Pike and Blodgetts Brooks be used, however, 

 and ])ossibly only P'ke Brook. 



In a few years, doubtless, the lake would furnish its own breeding 

 trout and the expense of buying eggs and yoimg trout would be obvi- 

 ated. The white trout still furnishes its own eggs m sufficient num- 

 bers satisfactorily to stock the lake in the absence of the predatory 

 fishes previously mentioned. It has been suggested that the artificial 

 propagation of tliis species be discontinued and the fish be given a 

 chance to show what it can do unaided. The wiiter believes it would 

 be unwise to do this, owuig to the well-known fact that far more can 

 be hatched artificially than under natural conditions. It is recom- 

 mended, however, that, if possible, some other method than the one 

 in use to collect breeders be devised and employed. 



The brooks used as fish nurseries should be constantly closed and 

 guarded for a number of years at least. 



A close season for taking trout of either kind in the lake is recom- 

 mended, from September 1 to May 1 (or until the ice has broken up 

 m the lake, if preferred). No ice fishmg should be permitted. It 

 should be permitted to retain no trout of either species taken in the 

 lake under 12 inches in length. Only single hook should be per- 

 mitted, whether bait hook, fly, or other artificial lure. This is not 

 intended to exclude two or tlu-ee ''smgle" hooks on a smelt line or 

 two or three flies on a cast, but to exclude the use of gangs and 

 grapples. An angler ought to be satisfied to fish for trout with one 

 rod and with one hand line for smelts for bait. The practice of set- 

 ting fines or rods over night from wharves, piers, and the shore or 

 leavuig them unattended at any time should be discontinued. The 

 quantfty of trout of either or both kmds legally to be taken by one 

 man in one day should not exceed 10 pounds. 



