RANGELEY LAKES, MAINE: FISHES, ANGLING, AND FISH CULTURE. 585 



natural obstructions, which were not barriers to the passage of the larger fishes. Each 

 lake differed somewhat from the others in physical characteristics and consequently 

 in some respects in biological conditions. Each had its natural limit to the amount 

 of life it could sustain and its approximate balance of life, in which area and capacity 

 were controlling factors. But all of these were subsequently altered. 



The earliest and most decided modifications of area and capacity were produced 

 by dams, which were not only restrictive in effect upon both the limit and approximate 

 equihbrium of life but, by more or less sudden interference with the habits of fishes, 

 otherwise injurious. These modifications were not constant in their action in any 

 one direction but interrupted and periodic, and their effects were consequently variant. 

 Some of the effects, too, were slow and gradual in development, others sudden and more 

 or less cataclysmic. By the erection of the most recent dams constant higher stages 

 of water than formerly have been produced, accompanied by some advantageous con- 

 ditions, such as that of enlarged physical and biological capacity. But these were 

 reduced in value by the unsettled conditions resulting from the operations of the dams. 



High stages of water are stated to afford new feeding grounds, but this signifies 

 only a change of locality. Fish were enabled to ascend farther up some brooks and even 

 onto low overflowed meadows, but as these stored waters were bound to be drawn 

 upon sooner or later the possible effect of that operation is obvious. The high water 

 facilitates the ascent of streams in the breeding season, but it also covers the former 

 shoals with an excess of water, and other places of suitable depth must be sought. 



The inevitable lowering of the water has a much greater reverse effect along the 

 same lines. During the periods of varying length that the dams were closed fish that 

 served as food for trout were prevented from going down stream, but their predilection 

 for such places, causing them to congregate in the still water just above the dam, 

 resulted in a wholesale outflow when the gates were opened. As an illustration, it may 

 be appropriate to mention that several species that otherwise would not have been 

 collected or recorded from the Rangeley region were secured by first opening and then 

 closing the sluice gates in the Dead Cambridge River. Hundreds of minnows of several 

 species and some trout were found in pockets amongst the rocks and even scattered 

 through the bushes of the low-lying banks close to the edge of the stream. 



This sudden drawing off of the water also affects seriously the fishes that have 

 entered the overflowed meadows and small brooks, often leaving them stranded to 

 slowly perish as the pools left by receding water become heated or evaporated. 



All of these things and more have been and still are operative at the Rangeley 

 Lakes. If by chance the fish have time to become accustomed to temporary prevailing 

 conditions, the sudden changes can be only to their general disadvantage and must 

 necessarily cause a constant unsettled and unstable condition, which can but react 

 unfavorably upon a perpetuity of the fish supply. 



Oquossoc Lake is the uppermost and smallest of the chain and is a faunal recipient 

 of only a limited amount of tributary water, while it may contribute to the whole chain 

 below. It may, therefore, be expected that it would be the first to show any disturb- 

 ance of the general faunal balance. Mooselucmaguntic, including Cupsuptic Lake, 

 is the largest and most diversified of the chain. It not only receives from Oquossoc 

 and from the Kennebago and Cupsuptic systems but from other smaller contributories. 

 Its principal faunal donations are to the lower waters. It should be the slowest to 



