FISHES AND FISHING IN SUNAPEE LAKE. 95 



the minimum limit 15 or 16 inches at the lowest, and the quantity 

 legally to be caught in one day not to exceed 20 pounds (or one fish), 

 including other species. The apparatus of capture should be restricted 

 as in the case of the trouts. 



CJiinooTc. — If the plantmg of chinooks is contmued, it is recom- 

 mended that they be planted in the brooks mentioned, that breeders 

 be secured if possible by the method suggested for landlocked salmon 

 and trout, and that the fishmg regulations be the same as for land- 

 locked salmon. 



Smelt. — As has been said, the smelt has saved the day so far as it 

 has been saved. The smelt is very abundant in the lake at present. 

 It is a prolific fish, which it has to be to offset the many adverse 

 conditions that it has to contend with. Let alone, its habit of spawn- 

 mg m brooks insures a permanent and continuous stock of smelts, 

 for in the brooks the eggs are comparatively free from enemies. 

 Trout and young suckers feed upon the eggs to some but an inappre- 

 ciable extent. The practice of dipi:)ing smelts as now carried on is 

 not only very destructive to smelts but to their eggs. Besides the 

 smelts caught, many are trampled upon and killed by the fishermen 

 wading in the brooks. The eggs are also trampled upon and loosened 

 and carried away by the current. Those eggs that escape one night 

 are likely to be destroyed the next, together with newly deposited 

 ones. It is well known that brooks that have been excessively 

 fished have m time been abandoned l^y smelts, and in the case of some 

 ponds the stock of smelts thus seriously depleted. The writer 

 recognizes the prevalent desire to dip smelts and sympathizes with 

 it, for the smelt is one of the most delectable pan fishes, and in Sun- 

 apee Lake can be taken at no other time or in no other manner in 

 sufficient numbers to afford even a small mess. 



It is recommended that the dipping of smelts be not prohibited, 

 but the open time shortened or allowed for one or two nights in each 

 week during the spawning nm, and the catch by each person limited. 

 Also, that the place of fishmg be restricted to the lower part of each 

 brook: In Blodgetts Brook to below the junction of the two branches; 

 in Pike Brook to below the lower bridge; and the other brooks to be 

 correspondingly restricted. All dipping should be done from the 

 bank, with no wading in the brook. 



Suckers. — It is recommended that the spearing of suckers be per- 

 mitted during their spawning run, but from the banks of the brooks 

 and not by wading in the streams, as the migration of the sucker 

 for spawning takes place before the smelt eggs are hatched. No 

 limit need be put on the catch or restrictions on the places of catching 

 suckers. 



Black bass. — The open season for black bass, if it is desired to pro- 

 tect them during the spawning season, should not beghi before July 



