XXII REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OP FISH AND FISHERIES. 



In accordance with the policy of the Commission of making a study 

 of the biological and physical conditions of important inland waters, an 

 examination of the lake systems of Maine was begun by an inquiry 

 embracing the Sebago Lake basin. The inland fisheries of this State 

 are valuable and carefully fostered, and among its lakes Sebago, with 

 its tributaries, holds an important place, both on account of its size and 

 the considerable fish-cultural operations which have been carried on in 

 its waters. The inquiry at this time appeared the more desirable on 

 account of the apparent decrease of fish life, notwithstanding the 

 extensive efforts made to maintain the supply. Several species of food 

 and game fishes inhabit the lake, the most important being the land- 

 locked salmon, and although this was the primary object of the inquiry, 

 the other species received due attention. Interesting data in regard 

 to the apparent decrease of the fish supply and bearing on the relation 

 between the landlocked salmon {8almo solar sebago) and the Atlantic 

 salmon (/8'a^mo salar) have been collected. The investigation was carried 

 on by Dr. W. O. Kendall during July and August, 1898, and continued 

 in May, 1899, and at the close of the fiscal year was still in progress. 

 Besides Sebago Lake several smaller lakes and other waters in its 

 extensive basin were examined. 



For some time it has been held by citizens of Utah that certain useful 

 marine animals might be advantageously acclimated in the waters of 

 Great Salt Lake. While the salinity of the waters of the open lake 

 was acknowledged to be too great for success in this direction, it was 

 thought that in some of its bays, where rivers discharge, the density 

 might be sufficiently low to permit the survival and growth of oysters, 

 clams, crabs, and even fish. Accordingly, at the request of those inter- 

 ested, the Commission decided to undertake a study of the physical 

 conditions of the lake in order to decide as to the feasibility of the 

 .project. The investigation was made by Dr. H. F. Moore, in September, 

 1898, and as shown in his comprehensive paper published as an appen- 

 dix to this report (pp. 229-250) the question may be regarded as settled. 

 It was found that while there is an ample food supply, yet owing to 

 the limited and irregular character of the zone of mixed water, even at 

 the mouths of rivers and streams, the attempt to stock the lake with 

 any marine species would be useless, and any efforts to introduce shad 

 or other auadromous fishes in the rivers would be equally unavailing. 



An interesting inquiry into the utilization of the shells of fresh- water 

 mussels in the manufacture of buttons has been made and a report on 

 the subject published. While this industry has grown up within the 

 last ten years, it has rapidly increased in value and importance, and if 

 proper steps are taken to prevent needless depletion of the mussel beds 

 it might well grow to larger proportions. The fishery has been exceed- 

 ingly active and is carried on along about 200 miles of the Mississippi 

 River in Iowa and Illinois, where the shoalness of the river makes 

 nearly every part easily accessible, and the exhaustion of these beds, if 

 present methods are continued, is a question of but a short time. In 



