316 With Rod and Gun in New England 



CHAPTER XX. 



The Lia^diaogked Salhto^. 



By Hoi\. HENRY 0. STANLEY. 



In giving the history of the landlocked salmon of Maine, I shall not 

 undertake to give it from any scientific standpoint, but merely from con- 

 clusions I have arrived at from twenty-five years' experience in their prop- 

 agation and distribution in the ponds and lakes of this State. Not only 

 in breeding them is my opinion based on, but also in observations of their 

 habits in their native haunts and on their spawning grounds. 



Twenty-five years ago there were only four places in Maine where 

 these fish were to be found, — viz.: Sebago lake (tributary of Presump- 

 scot river), Green lake (tributary of Union river), Grand lakes (tributaries 

 of St. Croix river), and Sebec lake (tributary of the Penobscot river). All 

 these lakes, before the advent of dams, were accessible to and frequented 

 by the Atlantic as well as the landlocked salmon, with an open route to 

 and from the sea. Why the fresh-water variety was called "landlocked " I 

 do not understand, and the name seems to be a misnomer. There is and 

 always has been a free run to the ocean. They have never been land- 

 locked or confined to fresh water. As to their origin, I do not pretend to 

 know. I can but think they are one and the same fish. 



All salmon must have started in fresh water. There they were born 

 and bred. If so, the question is : " Were they inland or sea salmon " ? It 

 seems to me probable that some of these drifted down to the sea, where 

 they found more congenial food and water, returning to their breeding 

 grounds at the proper season to deposit their eggs. In time, the instinct to 

 go to the sea was established in their offspring, and they became the 

 salmon of the sea. There was a portion that did not inherit or acquire 

 that instinct, and they are the landlocked salmon. Even many of these 

 seem to have a strong desire to drift down stream at certain seasons of the 

 year. So much so, that we consider it necessary to screen the outlets of 

 our lakes where it is feasible. Even with this precaution I believe we lose 

 many salmon. If it were not for the obstructions, I presume the most of 

 them would return to their native haunts. 



