THE OUANANICHE AND THE SEA TROUT 33 



St. John. Properly translated, it means "ouanan," 

 "salmon," "iche," the diminutive " little "—" little 

 salmon." To call the fish landlocked is an error and 

 a misnomer, as it is to some extent anadromous — that 

 is, it can and does seek the sea. Lake St. John is 

 open to the ocean through its outlet — the Saguenay 

 Eiver — which empties into the St. Lawrence. The 

 lower Saguenay is entirely salt, and the ouananiche 

 are frequently taken near its mouth, thus proving 

 their ability to live in salt water. 



The Lake St. John fish will average in weight 

 from 2|^ to 3^ pounds, with not over 8 or 8^ pounds 

 recorded as the largest taken there. In Maine the 

 average weight is considerably greater, with a record 

 of 20 pounds, and even more. This difference in 

 weight may result from a difference in species or 

 environment. The latter is probably the cause. 



The ouananiche is the closest relative of the salt- 

 water salmon known ; in reality there is not much 

 difference. Placed side by side and compared, it will 

 be found that their contour, color, markings — in fact, 

 their whole general appearance, excepting size — is 

 very similar. The salmon, of course, is taken very 

 much larger, varying in different localities. A good 

 average is about 20 pounds, but fish of 30 or 40 

 pounds have often been killed. The home of the 

 salmon is in the sea, the fish seeking fresh-water 



