REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 133 



made in last year's report, Dr. Kendall visited Matagamon Lake, and 

 the East Branch was examined from the dam at the foot of the lake to 

 Stair Falls. The small salmon were found common in the pool below 

 the dam and at Stair Falls. Specimens were obtained by fishing with 

 very small artificial flies, but none over 9 inches long was found. All 

 but one of these fish were males in well-advanced breeding condition, 

 the exception being a female with distinct eggs, but which would not 

 have matured liefore another fall. 



From here opportunity was taken to visit more northern Maine 

 waters to obtain much-needed information regarding the character and 

 distribution of the fish life of this region. Accordingly, a canoe 

 voyage was made from Matagamon via Matagamonsis, Webster, Telos, 

 and Chamberlain lakes to the Allagash Kiver, thence down the stream 

 through numerous lakes to the St. John, and from the St. John a trip 

 was made up the St. Francis to a few miles above Beau Lake and 

 return, thence down the St. John to Fort Kent. It was the intention 

 to haul from here to Cross Lake, thence proceed by canoe down the 

 Eagle lakes or east branch waters of Fish River, up Fish River to 

 Portage Lake, and thence haul to Ashland; but owing to the uncer- 

 tainty of getting through the proposed route on time, it was decided 

 to bring the explorations to a close after making some collections in 

 Cross Lake. Very interesting collections were made in all the lakes 

 en route, as well as in some tributary waters, and nmch valuable 

 knowledge was gained. 



Some interesting facts regarding the geographical distril)ution of 

 the Maine fishes were developed. The recorded range of some species 

 was extended into the State, and others already recorded from Maine 

 waters were found in new localities. 



At least four species of fishes apparently new to science were obtained, 

 the most interesting and . important being a white-fish ( Coregonus). 

 Two species of white-fish were already known to occur in the State, 

 the round white-fish ( Coregonus quad7ilateraUs) and the " attahawmeg" 

 ( C. lahTadoricus). The latter is the best known and reaches the largest 

 size. The only locality in Maine from which the round white-fish has 

 hitherto been recorded is Clearwater Pond, at Industry. It was ascer- 

 tained to be very common in northern Maine. 



The little stickleback {Gastef)'osteus atkinsll), for many years known 

 only from a few specimens from Grand Lake Stream, was found to be 

 widely distributed over northern Maine and is not so insignificant as 

 from its size it at first might appear. In the fall it was found to con- 

 stitute the principal food of the lake trout, or " togue," sometimes to 

 the exclusion of everything else. Many togue were caught gorged 

 with these little fish. Couesius plumbeus^ until recently not known 

 from Maine waters, was found to be one of the commonest minnows. 

 In the lakes it seems to be a deep-water form, seldom approaching the 

 shore except at night and in breeding season, when it enters streams 



