2o8 TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE 



nificent physique and thoroughly versed in woodcraft. He was instructed 

 to go over the entire preserve and report what he found. 



There are about twenty lakes in the preserve, from one-quarter of a 

 mile to two miles long. There are no fish of any kind in any of the waters 

 except brook trout. He reported one chain of three lakes in which there 

 was not a single fish of any kind whatever, and accounted for this condition 

 by the fact that in the outlet of the third lake there was a sheer fall of ioo 

 feet, which it was, of course, impossible for any trout to ascend. His obser- 

 vation was confirmed by two of our own number who went to these lakes, 

 examined them carefully and fished diligently, without being able to see 

 a single trout. It was further confirmed by the statements of men who 

 had previously fished this region for the market and who were thoroughly 

 familiar with every lake on it. 



Our guardian was, therefore, instructed to stock these lakes. During 

 the autumn of 1903 and the spring of 1904 he caught in a lake about a 

 quarter of a mile from one of these 750 small trout weighing from two to four 

 ounces each, and placed them in the waters of one of these lakes, carrying 

 them over carefully in a large, well- ventilated can. Every one of them was 

 alive when placed in the water. 



During the summer of 1904 these lakes were fished twice, for an hour 

 or two each time, with no result whatever. During the summer of 1905 

 one of them was fished for an hour or so and two trout were taken, one of 

 which weighed eleven ounces, and the other about six ounces, though it 

 was not weighed. In the summer of 1906 extraordinary fishing was had. 

 One dav one party of three took out thirty-three brook trout that weighed 

 sixty-six pounds and one ounce; and in another two days' fishing another 

 party of three took out thirty-six fish that weighed sixty-six pounds and 

 seven ounces. The largest one of the entire catch weighed a little over five 

 pounds; several weighed over four pounds and a great many over three 

 pounds. Many smaller ones were also taken out weighing from four or six 

 ounces up to two pounds, showing that propagation of the species was 

 going on. 



As to the facts in the case there seems to be very little room for doubt. 

 As to the catch in 1906 there is no doubt whatever. As to the fact that 

 there were no fish of any kind in these waters in 1903 we have the statement 



