FISHES OF VERMONT. 583 



For courtesies extended to us we are under especial obligations to the 

 following gentlemen : Hon. L. I). Miles and Mr. Frank Biddell, of New- 

 port; Mr. John W. Titcomb, superintendent United States fish-cultural 

 station at St. Johnsbury; and Mr. Samuel Decker, of Hog Island. 

 Each of these gentlemen did much to assist us in our investigations. 



With the growth of population and the consequent cutting away of 

 the forests, cultivation of the laud, building of stream-polluting mills 

 aud factories, and destructive methods of fishing, a great change has 

 taken place in the fish fauna of the State since the first settling of the 

 country. The changes since Thompson's time have been very great, as 

 may readily be seen by comparing present conditions with his remarks 

 on various species„ And Mr. Thompson calls attention to the serious 

 decrease of several important species prior to 1842. He says : 



In a country like Vermont, .situated so remote from the ocean, and watered only 

 by small fresh-water streams and lakes, a very great variety or abundance of fish is 

 hardly to be expected; and yet it is a notorious fact that when the country was new 

 all our waters swarmed with fishes of various kinds. Salmon and shad were taken 

 in the greatest plenty and perfection in Connecticut River, and the former, together 

 with the salmon trout, were abundant in Lake C'hamplain and in most of the streams 

 connected with it. In the spring of the year, Avhen these fishes were ascending our 

 streams to their breeding-places, they could be taken at the falls and rapids in scoop 

 nets, or in baskets fastened to poles, in almost any quantities desired. Brook trout, 

 weighing from 1 to 3 pounds, were plentiful in nearly all our streams and ponds, but 

 with the clearing and settling of the country these kinds of fishes have diminished 

 till the three former have become extremely rare, and the latter, though still num- 

 erous in many parts, are seldom taken exceeding half a pound in weight. For the 

 production of this state of things several other causes have operated besides their 

 diminution by fishing. The salmon and shad have probably been driven from our 

 waters chiefly by the erection of dams across nearly all our streams, which prevent 

 their ascent to their favorite spawning-places. Freshets, also, which have become 

 more sudden and violent since the country has become cleared, have swept out the 

 logs and other obstructions which formed their places of resort and concealment, 

 and have thus tended not only to diminish the number of our fishes but to prevent 

 their attaining so great magnitude as formerly. Those fishes of our lakes which 

 do not ascend far up our streams to deposit their spawn have not been so much 

 affected by these causes. These, however, though still taken in considerable quan- 

 tities, are not so abundant as formerly. 



