THE SMELTS 
233 
between the temperature of the water and the run of smelt is shown, the fluctuations 
depending upon the sudden changes in the temperature and the heavy rainfall. The 
chart shows that in 1918 the first aspearance of smelt was on March 28, and the 
height of the first run from April 1 to 3, with a falling off to none at all on April 10. 
There were no more fish until April 15, when a small run reached its maximum on 
April 17 and declined again to April 20, there being no more fish until April 22. This 
intermission was followed by a comparatively large run on April 23, which gradually 
increased to the 27th, which height was maintained until May 1, and after that 
date declined to May 8. A few continued until May 13, followed by their disap- 
pearance May 15. 
The first run of 1920 began March 24, increased in numbers until March 30, and 
again declined irregularly to April 6, followed by an intermission of 3 days. Then 
there was a large run on April 12, followed by a falling off to April 15, at which point 
it remained until April 17, when it again increased to a point equal to that of March 
30. Then followed a decline to April 22 and an entire absence of fish until April 26. 
The intermission was followed by a small run, which attained its maximum on April 
27 and declined again to April 29. It fluctuated to May 5, and then a large run equal 
to that of April 27 occurred. Finally a fluctuating decline terminated on May 15. 
The comparison of runs and temperature in 1921 perhaps may be better shown 
by the following table: 
Notes 
Date 
Tem pera- 
ture, °F. 
Mar. 8 
40 
Mar. 10 
40-50 
Mar. 12 
50 
Mar. 16 
53 
Mar. 18 
46 
Mar. 19 
43 
Mar. 20 
53 
Mar. 21 
51 
Mar. 24 
50 
/ Mar. 25- 
\Apr. 4 
Apr. 5 
Apr. 6 
Apr. 7 
Apr. 8 
Apr. 9 
Apr. 10 
} 44-55 
55 
55 
50 
50 
58 
Decrease to same level as from Mar. 24 to 
Apr. 4.. 
47.5 
Notes 
Date 
Tempera- 
ture, °F. 
Numbers maintained 
Considerable increase to numbers equal 
to those of Mar. 20 and 21 
Numbers maintained _ _ 
Decline to 
Numbers maintained (heavy rainfall) 
Increase to numbers of Apr. 15 to 17 
Numbers maintained 
Decreases to no fish (heavy rainfall caused 
a freshet) 
Freshet carried the fish out of the river 
from May 1 to May 3 
Later a small run to 
Decrease 
Small numbers to 
Decrease to no fish 
/Apr. 11- 
\Apr. 12 
/Apr. 14- 
\Apr. 15 
Apr. 16 
Apr. 18 
Apr. 19 
Apr. 20 
/ Apr. 21- 
\Apr. 29 
May 1 
May 3 
May 5 
May 6 
May 10 
May 12 
} 45-50 
| 60-50 
60 
52.5 
52.5 
58 
} 61-54 
62 
54.5 
57 
60 
(?) 
(?) 
The director’s report for 1922 states: 
As a whole the spring run in 1922 was much greater than the previous one. The smelt appeared 
in the falls on March 14 and the first run began the 23d, but was broken by a heavy snowstorm 
on the 30th just as it began to be heavy. The second run from April 10 to May 1 surpassed all 
records, with the day run nearly equaling the night run, and smelt were found in practically all 
the streams. 
About the only observations made upon the breeding habits of the smelts of 
Casco Bay, Me., were by the present writer from time to time in previous years. 
In a gully a short distance back of the writer’s boyhood home is a small brook 
that was then called the “Smelt Brook,” as it was frequented by smelts in the spawn- 
ing season. The fresh-water portion of the brook is not over a mile in total length. 
It is fed by springs and three small spring rivulets some half mile, more or less, in 
