32 Conservation Department 



various Finger lakes, the trout streams become very numerous, 

 culminating in that section near the heads of Skaneateles, Owasco 

 and Cayuga lakes, (Map 5). 



Some of the More Successful Trout Streams of the Oswego 



Watershed 



Map 1. The upper East Branch of Fish creek* with its numerous 

 tributaries is the outstanding brook trout system of the whole 

 watershed. These streams are found within an area of about 78 

 square miles. Roaring brook, Sixmile, Sevenmile, North Branch 

 and Big Alder are the more important fishing tributaries. The 

 main stream ranges upward to a maximum width of 70 feet, is 

 generally swift, with rubble, coarse and fine gravel bottom. Long 

 deep pools are numerous and spawning beds are frequent. In food 

 richness it ranks high. It is therefore capable of supporting 

 an exceedingly large quantity of trout. On account of the high 

 results from natural spawning, the stocking policy has been placed 

 at the low figure of 2,200 per mile. 



Map 2. Here was found the greatest number of trout streams. 

 by far the greater proportion of which were connected with the 

 Fish creek watershed. The East Branch of Fish creek becomes a 

 brown trout stream on this map. Rainbows, however, have 

 also been planted in the past as follows: 1910, 4,000; 1921, 20,000; 

 1922, 10,000; 1924, 2,500. 



A few small rainbows either in the second or third years were 

 reported during the past summer, yet it is not evident that they 

 return to this stream to spawn nor that they mature in the stream. 

 For this reason this species has not been included in this stocking 

 recommendation. 



Point Rock creek, Fall brook and Furnace creek seem to be 

 the most important fishing tributaries. The first two are productive 

 brook trout waters, while Furnace creek is probably more useful 

 for brown trout. 



The West Branch of Fish creek varies widely in its conditions. 

 It appears suitable for brown trout from tributary 8 nearly to 

 Camden. From thence to Williamstown it becomes warm and 

 sluggish and at present abounds in large-mouthed bass. Above 

 Williamstown it becomes cooler and more rapid and brown trout 

 should succeed nearly to Kasoag lakes. (See stocking list, pp. 216, 

 217.) The most important tributaries are Little river, Cobb and 

 Emmons brooks and Mad river. 



In the southwestern half of Map 2 are located many good trout 

 streams more or less directly tributary to Oneida lake. Many of 

 the better ones are now posted and cannot be stocked with State 

 fish. However, public fishing is permitted in some of them, includ- 

 ing Big Bay creek with its tributaries Dykemans creek ; Frederick 



* In the section just west of Michigan Mills, there would seem to be an 

 opportunity for securing wild brook trout eggs in sufficient quantities to 

 make the attempt worth while. 



