REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. *25 



The AtSaiitic Salmon in 18Y6. 



Nothing was done during the years 1875 and 187G in connection with 

 the Atlantic Salmon, although the establishment at Bucksport was 

 maintained in a condition of proper efficiency, under the direction of 

 Mr. Charles G. Atkins. This work had been carried on with the co- 

 operation of the States of Connecticut and Massachusetts, and the 

 United States Commissioner concurred with the commissioners of 

 those States in the piopriety of discontinuing effort until the results of 

 the labors of the several preceding years had been determined. 



The LandSocked SaEnion. 



Instead of co-operating, as heretofore, in the propagation of the sea 

 or Atlantic Salmon, it was decided by the United States Commissioner, 

 in conjunction with the commissioners of Connecticut and Massachu- 

 setts, to experiment upon the Landlocked Salmon, a fish at one time 

 thought to be a distinct species, but now pretty well established as 

 being really a landlocked sea salmon, or, in other words, a Salmo salar, 

 which, for some reason, has remained in the fresh waters instead of 

 going to the sea, and by restriction in run has been reduced in size, 

 while maintaining all the characteristics of its larger relative as to flesh 

 and attractiveness to the angler. This fish is found in a number of lakes 

 in Maine, especially the Sebago, the Sebec, and Keed's Ponds, and the 

 lakes connected with the Saint Croix in Maine and New Brunswick. A 

 similar variety occurs also in numerous waters in New Brunswick and 

 Nova Scotia, and also in the vicinity of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and 

 the lower portions of the river. The fish varies in size from that of the 

 Sebago Ponds, which sometimes reaches ten or fifteen pounds, to that 

 of the Grand Lake Stream, where one of three pounds is quite an un- 

 usual maximum. 



The first experiment in regard to the Landlocked Salmon made by the 

 United States Fish Commissioner, in conjunction with the commissioners 

 of Connecticut and Massachusettl^, was in 1873, at Sebec Lake, where, 

 under the direction of Mr. H. L. Leonard, the necessary works were 

 erected. This was the first formal effort in the direction of reproducing 

 the Landlocked Salmon, although experiments on a small scale had been 

 made previously by private parties. The results of the first year's opera- 

 tions at Sebec were not very satisfactory, only 24,000 eggs being obtained, 

 which were divided between the United States Commission and the com- 

 missioners of Massachusetts, Khode Island, and Connecticut. 



A second season of experiment at Sebec in 1874 was not more satis- 

 factory, and it was concluded to transfer the seat of operations in 1875 

 to Grand Lake Stream. This is connected with Grand Lake, one of 

 the series of ponds tributary to the Saint Croix Kiver, within a com- 

 paratively short distance of the village of Calais, in Maine. The neces- 

 sary arrangements having been made with Messrs. Shaw, the proprietors 



