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we had hoped much for this river as a fit habitat for the 
Pacific salmon, and many hundred thousands of fry were 
placed in the upper Sinnemahoning and other tribu- 
taries only to remain a year or two as smolts and parr 
and then disappear. Only one adult specimen did I 
ever see or hear of, and that came ashore here dead, 
killed probably in some log jam above during the June 
freshet of 1889. Thisspecimen would, I estimated, weigh 
about thirty pounds and was in prime condition, too 
much putrefied to remove from the water, but was an un- 
doubted quinnat salmon. I gave an account of it at the 
time to FoRREST AND STREAM and to J. H. Bean at 
Washington, but saw afterward that he was probably in 
Alaska, as I got no acknowledgment of my letter. 
Trout (SaZ. Font.) were common in the early years of the 
pres-nt century, but as the settlements increased, the 
forests became depleted, the water roiled and tempera- 
ture increased, they decamped for cooler and purer 
springs. 
I have been familiar with this river for forty years and 
have followed its changed conditions with much interest 
and with increasing alarm unless the public can be roused 
up to effective effort for its preservation. The future of 
our noble river, with its broad expanse, looks gloomy in- 
deed, and not only the Susquehanna, but is it not true of 
most of our American rivers? And what can we hope 
for but depletion unless intelligent public sentiment can 
be aroused toarrest the destructive influences. Our 
Fisheries Society is doing its best and exerting a healthy 
influence, and it is with the view and hope of discussion, 
and efforts that may eventually lead to more important 
results, that I respectfully submit this paper for your 
consideration. 
SunBury, Pa., May 16. 
