276 
BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES 
the night of April 21, 1875, in the same brook, about 250 were caught, 36 of which 
weighed 13% pounds, an average of 6 ounces each. The largest female was 12 inches 
long and weighed one-half pound. The majority of the females were from 11 to 12 
inches long and the males from 10 to 11 inches, but some of the females were less 
than 11 inches. The present writer has seen but two smelts from Great Pond, one 
of each sex, each measuring about 10% inches in total length. 
In a letter to the present writer dated January 22, 1908, Atkins stated that the 
smelts found at North Belgrade were the largest that he had ever seen — some 15 
inches long and weighing two-thirds of a pound each. 
Mount Vernon Pond. — Eight smelts from a pound in Mount Vernon, examined 
by the present writer, ranged in total length from 3-^cr to a little over 5 inches, and 
averaged 4% inches. 
Snow Pond. — On March 20, 1906, Prof. Wm. L. Powers, in a letter to the present 
writer, said: 
I have found that very large smelts are taken from a brook that flows into Snow Pond on the 
day that the ice leaves the pond. * * *. A man in Augusta telephoned me that he saw 
some weighed that came from there, and the combined weight was 6 pounds. * * *. The 
four fish were sent to Boston and exhibited in the market. 
Messalonskee Lake. — A female smelt taken by Atkins from a stream flowing into 
this lake measured 12 inches in length, and one taken from Morrisons Brook on April 
20, 1869, was 14% inches long. 
Cold Stream Pond. — Under date of April 3, 1878 (in his notes), Atkins mentioned 
that a Mr. Stillwell brought some smelts from this pond, the largest of which were 
7 and nearly 7% inches long and weighed over 1% ounces each. 
Cochnewagn Pond. — Smelts caught here by Atkins, April 30, 1878, he divided 
into four classes — (a) 12 males and 1 female 6.7 to 6.8 inches long; ( b ) 6 males and 
2 females 5.1 to 5.7 inches long; (c) 8 males and 5 females 4.75 to 5.1 inches long; 
and (d) 12 males and 5 females nearly 3 to nearly 4 inches long. 
Cobbosseecontee Lake. — Sixty-one smelts obtained by the present writer ranged 
in total length from 3.6 to 5.2 inches and averaged about 4.4 inches. Cope had five 
specimens upon which he based his new species Osmerus abbottii, which he said 
measured about 4 inches in breeding condition. 
China Lake. — Smelts of China Lake are said to be remarkably large; some of 
them are said to weigh over 1 pound. The present writer has seen no examples 
from this lake. 
GOOSE RIVER BASIN 
Swan Lake. — Two specimens from this lake were received from E. D. Merrill in 
1899, taken with a hook and line. They measured, respectively, 10% and 6% inches 
in total length. According to Merrill, smelts in this pond attain a weight of a 
pound. 
PENOBSCOT BASIN 
Sebec Lake. — According to B. M. Packard, proprietor of camps on Sebec Lake 
in 1900, the smelts of this lake were very abundant and of two adult sizes — the 
larger 8 to 14 inches and the smaller 4 to 5 inches in length. 
