4 FISHES OF THE CONNECTICUT LAKES. 
as possible. Accordingly in these pages the discussion of these sub- 
jects is taken up under two headings—that is, geographic distribu- 
tion and the fishes. The first is treated under two subdivisions— 
(1) natural distribution, dealing with the indigenous species, and (2) 
artificial distribution, the fish-cultural dissemination. 
Necessarily incidental to the study of the relations of fishes to their 
environment is a knowledge of the geographic and physical features 
of the locality. These subjects being less specifically our field, 
however, we give only a general description of the waters examined 
and such conclusions as we are able to draw from our work. 
Attempt is made to present the report in a form which will be of 
popular interest and practical use, and the fishes therefore are 
treated as untechnically as is consistent with exactness and concise- 
ness. But since most residents in this region and all visiting anglers 
are greatly interested in the local fishes and fishing, and among them 
there exists more or less confusion regarding the identity of some of 
the indigenous and probably all the introduced species, it has been 
the effort to present the results of the study of the fishes in such 
manner as will enable anyone to identify all that he finds. To that 
end a simple artificial key is presented, with instructions regarding 
its use. The species are arranged in the order adopted by Jordan 
and Evermann in their Fishes of North and Middle America. Each 
species 1s then taken up in the following manner: The common name, 
followed by the technical name and original authority for it; then a 
brief structural and color description, taken when possible from spec- 
imens collected in the region under discussion. The most common 
local names are then given, followed by the recorded general range of 
the species and local distribution as indicated by our collections. This 
is followed by a description of the habits of the species and other 
interesting or important facts mainly drawn from our own observa- 
tions; after this, uses and best methods of capture, in accordance with 
our experience in these waters in particular and in other places in 
general. 
Photographs taken by ourselves in this region are used to illus- 
irate this report, together with drawings and photographs of the 
introduced species and some of the native game and food fishes. 
LOCAL GEOGRAPHY AND PHYSICAL FEATURES. 
The Connecticut Lakes, three in number, situated in the northern 
part of Coos County, N. H., near the Canadian and Maine borders, 
having an average elevation of 1,850 feet, are the principal and 
practically the ultimate source of the Connecticut River. The sur- 
rounding country consists of low mountains with accompanying 
valleys and bogs characteristic of northern New England. Much of 
