FISHES OF THE CONNECTICUT LAKES. 11 
Numerous soundings revealed a maximum depth of about 47 feet. 
From the middle to the east side there is considerable deep water. 
Toward the outlet, west shore and north shore, the water shoals, 
excepting that it deepens somewhat abruptly off the northeast point. 
The outlet cove contains a considerable growth of pond weed, and 
the bottom in shallow water all around the pond bears a profuse 
growth of pipewort. In the northwest portion there is shallow water 
and muddy bottom, with a rather luxuriant growth of yellow pond 
lily. In deep water in many places, even in the middle of the pond, 
the bottom seems to be covered with a dense growth of fine, green 
alge. The pond has no inlets, save some tiny rivulets from near-by 
spring ground, and it is doubtless fed by subaqueous springs. 
The water is cold and, so far as we are able to judge, is well suited 
to trout, of which, according to popular report, there are many in the 
pond. Besides trout, there are also numerous chub-minnows, and 
many water newts (Diemyctylus viridescens), which were seen feed- 
ing at the surface of the water, swimming up from the bottom, 
taking insects, and immediately returning to the bottom. They made 
little wakes at the surface that were at first thought to be caused by 
some small fish. 
Trout are said to be caught near shore when biting well, especially 
at the south and north ends of the pond. The few caught by us, how- 
ever, were taken near the middle of the lake in about 25 feet of water. 
Main Inlet of First Lake-—This stream is the outflow of Second 
Lake. It is about 44 miles in length and for a good part of its course 
is swift and rocky, but there are some dead waters and deep pools. 
It has a descent of about 200 feet between First and Second lakes. 
There are two good-sized tributary streams, Coon Brook and Big 
Brook, which are now, or were once, good trout streams. Coon Brook 
is formed by the union of two small branches some 3 or 4 miles, per- 
haps, from Main Inlet. It is a clear, cool, rocky brook, much over- 
grown with alders and other bushes, and in many places full of old 
snags and fallen dead trees. 
Big Brook has its source in Unknown Pond and flows southward 
as a clear, cool, rocky stream to join Main Inlet about 2 miles below 
Second Lake. It is overgrown with bushes and in places full of old 
logs like other woods brooks of this region. 
Main Inlet affords numerous excellent spawning grounds for the 
various members of the salmon family. The lower mile or so is still 
water, with sand and mud bottom and abounding with aquatic plants. 
The shores of this dead water are low and muddy or sandy, covered 
with shore grasses and old stumps. The fishes of the inlet at the sea- 
son of our visit consisted mainly of suckers, chubs, chub-minnows, and 
blacknose dace. The dace were most common in quick water; the 
other species in quiet places, like pools and eddies. Most chubs and 
suckers were found in the dead water at the lower end of the inlet, 
