FISHES OF THE CONNECTICUT LAKES. bt 
places salmon trout. In the Great Lakes it is “ namaycush,” “Mack- 
inaw trout,” etc. As “ Mackinaw trout” it has been introduced into 
the Connecticut Lakes, although the same species was indigenous to 
those waters. 
The lake trout is common over the northern part of the United 
States as far west as Lake Superior and extends northward to the 
Arctic regions. It occurs also in the Columbia and Frazer rivers and 
on Vancouver Island, but in very limited numbers. In the Report of 
the Fish and Game Commissioner of New Hampshire for 1892, page 
77, it is stated “that this excellent food and game fish [Salvelinus 
namaycush| is indigenous to only six of our lakes, viz, First and 
Second Connecticut lakes, Squam Lake, Winnepesaukee Lake, includ- 
ing Winnisquam Bay, New Found Lake, and East Pond in Enfield.” 
“No adults were secured in First Lake, but in Second Lake some were 
taken. 
This fish is a frequenter of deep water, especially in the summer 
time, approaching the shore or shoals at times for food, and in the 
fall for spawning. It is a voracious feeder when it feeds, but like 
other members of the salmon family it has its caprices, or at least, 
periods when it will not take a hook. It eats small fishes of almost 
any kind. Its spawning time is in September and October. Bean 
says (op. cit.) a female of 24 pounds carries about 14,943 eggs, but 
not over 5,000 and 6,000 as commonly found, and after the trout has 
attained maturity at 3 years of age, 1,000 eggs to the pound of fish 
may be accepted as a general rule. The eggs do not hatch until 
spring, when the waters begin to warm. 
As a game fish it is not remarkable and it is inferior as a food 
fish. Opinions and tastes differ, however, regarding these qualities. 
The usual method of capture is by trolling in early summer, at other 
times by still fishing with live or cut bait. Cut chub is considered a 
good bait, and sometimes these morsels will be taken in preference to 
a whole minnow or shiner. The lake trout seldom takes a hook be- 
tween the last of June and first of September. This habit of re- 
fraining from gratifying the angler or fisherman in summer while 
the water is above a certain temperature, the degree of which is not 
definitely known, is common to other members of the salmon family. 
The records of the introduction of this fish into Connecticut Lakes, 
under the names of lake trout and Mackinaw trout, are as follows: 
Cs inn Saat ae ee OOROOOS PS OStaeewns cee ne eee 8, 000 
SH Mh a Eel ok A ae ee DON OOO MOOS Bam e te Lae ae ete 25, 000 
Sey Rees ee eben dees HOOKOOO ARG OLS eres =e Os See Ee 25, 000 
Uo ee ee enc eae eee 80, 000 
Young of this species, which may be some of those recently planted, 
or perhaps naturally hatched, were found in small tributary brooks 
of First Lake as follows: 
