Nos. 618-619] RESTOCKING INLAND WATERS 329 



tirely dry during August. But after a severe rainstorm 

 all of the brooks carry a large amount of water, often 

 more than double their normal flow, for from twelve 

 to eighteen hours, when they return to the normal again. 

 Thus again the large amount of sand in the soil in this 

 region plays an important part in determining how long 

 the water shall be retained before it runs off. After 

 these rains the water in the lake around the mouth of the 

 brooks is colored dark by the organic matter brought 

 down by the water of these streams. Two important re- 

 sults follow: First, as this organic matter settles to the 

 bottom, a richer soil for plant growth is furnished ; and, 

 secondly, fish tend to come to these places for their food. 

 The amount of water flowing from Trout Brook and the 

 frequent strong winds constantly shifting- the sands pre- 

 vent plants from becoming established at this place. But 

 the water is so dark here and so much cooler that this is 

 by all means the best place to angle for brook trout, espe- 

 cially by fly-casting. * 



The summer food of fishes has been studied by so many 

 investigators that the main facts for the several species 

 are fairly well understood. But the more difficult prob- 

 lem of determining what the available food is during the 

 winter and what fish eat during this period is still prac- 

 tically unknown. One naturally thinks that all aquatic 

 life, like the deciduous trees, perhaps, enters into a rest- 

 ing state for several months, but that this assumption 

 is far from correct can be shown by the following obser- 

 vations. 



Through the courtesy of Milo Otis, superintendent of 

 the Saranac Inn Hatchery, I have had sent to the zoology 

 department a large number of the so-called red hydra, 

 each month beginning with November and ending with 

 April. These red hydra come into the hatchery tanks 

 through the intake pipes in Little Lake Clear. These 

 pipes are from 30 to 40 feet below the surface of the water. 

 The important fact is clearly established that this very 

 simple organism, sensitive to temperature changes, lives 



