EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. XXXIII 



immense numbers of these fish existed in Lake Erie and ascended its 

 tributaries on both the Canadian and American sides to spawn. 

 They have, however, for the most part, been exterminated on the 

 American side, and but for the efforts of Mr. Wilmot wouhl probably 

 have experienced the same fate on the northshore. Anumber of yearsago, 

 however, that gentleman, finding a few pairs in a small tributary of Lake 

 Ontario, near Newcastle, undertook their artificial propagation, and 

 so successful were his efibrts that he increased the number enormously, 

 although no great increase in the number of captures has resulted. This 

 is probably due to the fact that they cannot be taken at the time when 

 they are fresh run and in good condition for food. Their present spawn- 

 ing-grounds are very near the lake, and, as in the short rivers of Cali- 

 fornia, they come into the streams only when they are nearly ripe, and 

 remain a very short time, returning at once to the lake. It would seem 

 that, to have a satisfactory river salmon fishery, the stream must be 

 long enough for the fish to remain a considerable time in it, so that they 

 may enter it before they are ripe and give an opportunity for their cap- 

 ture by suitable devices. 



The advantages of this landlocked form, which, so fa^ as the United 

 States Fish Commission is concerned, it is proposed hereafter to term 

 the Schoodic salmon, unless the name Win-ni-nish be considered prefer- 

 able, are the readiness with which the eggs can be obtained, the hardi- 

 ness of the fish, and their perfect adaptability to a great variety of 

 circumstances and temperature. They are said to resist warmth of 

 water better than even the brook trout and to be an available fish not 

 only for lakes and ponds, but also for long reaches of deep water in 

 rivers through which there is comparatively little current, such as are 

 found in the Saint John's Elver in New Brunswick and elsewhere. 



The Schoodic salmon has, for several years, occupied the attention of 

 the United States Fish Commission, and the successive reports will show 

 what has been done in this connection. A trial made several years ago 

 in Sebec Lake and this year at Sebago Pond, have led to the conclusion 

 that the Schoodic lakes of Maine, and perhaps New Brunswick, will fur- 

 nish the best stations for the collection and distribution of eggs. The 

 locality controlled by the United States Fish Commission is situated not 

 far from the tannery of the Messrs. Shaw Brothers, on Grand Lake 

 Stream, the outlet of Grand Lake, one of the Schoodic chain of eastern 

 Maine, and at no great distance to the west of Calais. This, for many 

 years, had been the resort of fishermen in the proper season, the fish 

 occurring in immense numbers and furnishing admirable sport. By ar- 

 rangement with the Messrs. Shaw, certain privileges of water and fish- 

 ing were obtained by payment of an annual rental, on the usual condition 

 as established by the laws of Maine, that one-fourth of the eggs obtained 

 should be hatched out and the young returned to the waters. In addi- 

 tion to this, a considerable per-cent. of the remainder goes into the 

 waters of the State in other localities. Here, the United S tates, in conjunc- 

 III F 



