CXXII REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



by both national and State autliorities. Various other features of the 

 fish fauna cf this lake and adjacent waters are also of general interest. 

 In iiursuance of the policy of the Fish Commission of investigating 

 the biological and i)hysical conditions and the fishery resources of the 

 important inland waters, Sebago Lake seemed to afford an inviting- 

 field for the inauguration of an examination of the lake systems of 

 Maine, whose inland fishing resources are perhaps more carefully 

 guarded and generously fostered than those of any other State. The 

 facts that no systematic examination of the fish fauna of this lake had 

 ever been made, that it had been the field for extensive fish-cultural 

 operations, and that the supply of its most noted fish was apparently 

 diminishing, were additional reasons for taking up this inquiry. 



Accordingly, in 1898, Dr. W. C. Kendall, of this division, began an 

 investigation of the Sebago basin; the work commenced on July 1 

 and continued until the early part of August of that year, and being 

 resumed on May 20, 1899, was in progress at the close of the fiscal year. 

 That part of the extensive Sebago basin which was examined during 

 this period included Sebago and Little Sebago lakes; Thomas, Panther, 

 Rattlesnake, Pettengill, and Chism ponds; Songo and Presumpscot 

 rivers, and various small ponds and brooks. 



The j)rimary object of the inquiry was a thorough study of the hind- 

 locked salmon, its habits and environment. Due attention, however, 

 was given to other fishes of the region. The physical features of the 

 waters (depth, temperature at difterent depths, character and contour 

 of bottom) and the general faunal and tioral aspects were considered 

 because of their important bearing on the salmon and other fishes. 



The salmon of Sebago Lake attain a larger size than those of any 

 other American lake. Their maximum weight is 25 pounds, and the 

 average is 8 or 10 pounds. The largest captured in 1899 weighed 17^ 

 pounds. As soon as the lake is free from ice salmon-fishing begins, 

 the fish being then in eager pursuit of the smelt {Osmerus mordaa), 

 which are running up the streams from the lake to spawn. The smelt 

 is the principal food of the salmon at this and other times. When 

 the run of smelt is over salmon fishing is considered as at an end, owing 

 to the erroneous assumption tliat salmon will not bite again during the 

 season. Although fishing has of late been comparatively poor and has 

 apparently not been improved by the planting of many thousands of fry, 

 the salmon are still fairly numerous, as shown by the numbers observed 

 on the spawning-beds in fall. An abundance of natural food may have 

 caused the recent diminished catch; this theory is entertained by 

 some persons. Another explanation is that the fish descend to the sea 

 over dams and other obstructions which prevent any return to the lake. 



Whether the landlocked salmon is a distinct,species or only a variety 

 of the sea-going fish [Snlmo salar) is a question not yet settled to the 

 satisfaction of all zoologists, for the reason that no one has had material 

 enough ior study to enable him to reach a definite opinion. The indi- 

 cations are that further research will reveal enough structural difier- 



