36 FAMILIAR FISH, THEIR HABITS AND CAPTURE 



caught, owing to its identity with the salmon, as 

 explained. 



In 1875 the United States Fish Commission, rec- 

 ognizing the especial value of the ouananiche as a 

 game and food fish, commenced hatching it, and since 

 that date has steadily increased its activity in that 

 direction. Several of the fish commissions of the 

 States have also undertaken its propagation with 

 splendid results. A large number of lakes have been 

 stocked, and young fish are now frequently taken. 

 But a short time will intervene before the ouananiche 

 will be found in many places. The Maine variety is 

 used for hatching, and, while it differs somewhat 

 from that of Lake St. John, being a deep-, instead of 

 a rough-water fish, it will soon be the most sought 

 after of all fresh- water fish, not even excepting the 

 black bass. 



It has usually been believed that the ouananiche 

 is entirely distinct from the salt-water salmon, but 

 now it is generally considered to be a local variety. 

 Why it does not seek the sea, as is the case with its 

 close relative, can not be explained, unless by attrib- 

 uting it to a lack of migratory instinct. A peculiar- 

 ity of the ouananiche that is difficult to explain is 

 that it is so much smaller than the salmon. The only 

 possible reason to offer is that the fresh waters it 

 inhabits do not afford as plentiful food as does the 



