NATURALIZATION OF FISHES. 209 



to free themselves, and are plucky and die hard. The last 

 Massachusetts Fish Commissioners' Report says : 



" In 1850, Mr. Samuel T. Tisdale, of East Wareham, 

 succeeded, after much care, in bringing twenty-seven from 

 Saratoga Lake, alive, to his place, where he put them in 

 Flax Pond, close to his house. In 1851, and again in 

 1852, others were brought, and several of the neighbor- 

 ing ponds were stocked. The matter was kept secret, and 

 a 'jubilee' of five years given to the fish; at the end of 

 which time, they were found to have peopled these ponds, 

 and to have grown finely. So soon as this fact was known, 

 all the neighborhood at once gave its assiduous attention to 

 poaching, indignant that any one should be so aristocratic 

 as to try to furnish cheap food to the community. Their 

 efforts were so far successful as much to reduce the num- 

 ber of the fish. 



" During May they come by pairs, and make a spawning- 

 bed on a sandy bottom in from four to six feet of water. 

 This they sweep with their tails after the manner of trout, 

 and the male remains on guard over the spawn, and drives 

 away the many intruders which hang about, greedy for 

 this savory food. In June, the young recognisable by a 

 black band across the tail are first observed, and these, 

 by autumn, have grown to a length of three to four inches. 

 At one year old, they weigh from i to ^ pound, and in- 

 crease about pound yearly, till they arrive at 6 pounds, 

 according to food and water. They are in prime condition 

 in August and September, but in winter are black and lean. 

 The objection in certain cases to this species, is its great 

 18* o 



