596 KEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



"The author of ' Uncle 'Lisha' is the first person to my knowledge residing on or 

 near Lake Chauiplain to call the smelt of the lake hy its proper name, or, in fact, to 

 admit that it is a smelt. That Mr. Robinson has himself observed the smelt among 

 the fish caught in the lake, and that Senator Allen bears like testimony, should settle 

 the question of their presence in the lake in summer. There is a whitefish found in 

 Lake Chauiplain the young of which might he mistaken for the smelt when found 

 inside other fish, unless the observer was; familiar with both species, but this would 

 not apply to either of the gentlemen quoted. A strange thing about the smelt is 

 that they have not been caught by those who have searched for them in the summer 

 months. My information on this subject comes from fishermen at Port Henry 

 only. A year ago, when smelt fishing through the ice was at its height, I visited the 

 fishermen on the ice and questioned them as to their knowledge of the smelt in the 

 summer months. All agreed that, although search had been made for them, they had 

 not been taken. Another strauge thing is that no one seems to know anything 

 about where they spawn. - ' 



Hon. L. D. Miles, of Newport, says that the smelt is not native to Lake Memphre- 

 magog, but was planted there several years from Lake Champlain, and that it has 

 increased quite rapidly. It remains in the lake all the time, coming into shallow 

 water from the first of October to the middle of June. He thinks they spawn on 

 the same beds used by the shadwaiter. They are caught in spring and fall, chiefly 

 in seines, but some are taken with hook and line. 



Mr. Bishop's experience with this fish seems to furnish pretty conclusive evidence 

 that it is permanently resident in Lake Champlain, as it doubtless is in Lake 

 Memphremagog. • 



Kuowing what we do of the physical environment of the landlocked smelt in the 

 small lakes of Maine, one would be disposed to believe, in the absence of evidence to 

 the contrary, that those in Lakes Champlain and Memphremagog are also landlocked. 



The smelt from Cobessicontic Lake, Kennebec County, Me., was described as a 

 distinct species by Professor Cope in 1870, under the name Osmerits abbolti. In the 

 same year Professor Cope described specimens from Wilton Pond, in the same county, 

 as Osmerus spectrum. These two supposed new species have usually been regarded as 

 not being specifically distinct from Osmerua mordax. The Cobessicontic smelt is said 

 to have the head shorter, the body more slender, and the eye smaller than in the 

 common smelt. The Wilton smelt is said to have the body still more slender, the eye 

 large, and the month and maxillary short. "We have no specimens of either of these 

 varieties and have had no opportunity to compare them with the true smelt. We 

 have, however, compared examples from Lakes Champlain and Memphremagog with 

 specimens from salt water, and, being unable to discover any tangible differences, 

 are not willing to admit them even to subspecific rank. 



Concerning this species Thompson says: 



"The smelt is one of those migratory species of fishes which pass a part of the time 

 in salt water and a part in fresh. Though not a constant visitant in our waters, he 

 occasionally makes his appearance, and is sometimes taken in Lake Champlain in 

 very considerable numbers. The form of this fish is long and slender, and its bright 

 silvery hue renders it very beautiful. It is sometimes taken w r ith the hook, but 

 more commonly with the net, and is very highly esteemed as an article of food. In 

 Massachusetts, according to Dr. Storer's report, 750,000 dozen of these fishes are 

 taken annually in Watertown alone and sent to Boston market." 



Family UMBKlDiE. The Mud Minnows. 



35. Umbra limi (Kirtland). Mud Minnow ; Mudfish. 



No specimens were obtained by us, but it is doubtless a common fish in suitable 

 places iu Vermont. Concerning it Mr. Thompson has the following: 



"These fishes exist in considerable numbers in the marshes and coves along the 

 margin of Lake Champlain, and of the rivers which fall into it. They are very 

 tenacious of lite, and live longer than most fishes without water. During droughts, 



