THE SMELTS 
349 
inches. Several picked up from a beach at the same lake on October 15 and 26 
measured from nearly 2 to 2.28 inches. This possibly indicates an increase in min- 
imum and maximum lengths, respectively, of 0.9 to 0.88 inch in a little over 2 months. 
At Sebago Lake, Me., in July (18 to 29) of various years, young smelts were 
found to range from 1.2 to 1.5 inches; in August (8 to 28) they ranged from 1.4 to 
2.5 inches; and on September 10 in one year 109 specimens from the stomach of a 
yellow perch measured from a little over 1 to 1.9 inches, averaging 1.7 inches. There 
is no way of telling whether only one or both classes of these “large” or “small” 
smelts were represented. The figures would suggest that both were represented. 
It has been indicated already that the marine smelt appears to attain maturity 
at 2 years of age. From the report of the New Hampshire commissioners of fish- 
eries, for 1872, it would seem that this obtains with fresh-water smelt. The report 
says: 
Two years since we placed some of the ova of the smelt in some brooks running into Massa- 
besic Lake, as a matter of experiment, and we have reliable information that full grown smelts have 
made their appearance in one of those brooks, for the purpose of spawning, this spring. As there 
were no smelts there previous to placing their ova in those brooks, we learn the fact that the smelt 
matures in two years. 
STOCKING WATERS OR TRANSPLANTING 
Bloch (1796) wrote that it was possible to transfer and stock other waters with 
the eperlan, provided that the place where they were sent was deep and the bottom 
sandy. He said that the fish was so common and so cheap that it was hardly worth 
transporting, but as it was very prolific it might serve as food supply for Sandre and 
trout. 
Smitt (1895) said that in lakes where the smelt is wanting it may easily be 
introduced and is very useful as food for other fishes, particularly the pike perch, 
as Nilsson pointed out. He said that the impregnated eggs may be transported from 
one lake to another or, with a little care, the spawning smelt may be conveyed alive 
during the cool season in vessels filled with pure water. 
On this point Reuter (1883) wrote that smelt propagation is best managed by 
fructified roe, or also by transportation of adult fish, but as the smelt lives only a 
short time if it is taken from the water the transport ought to be made in roomy 
vessels and during low temperatures, and the fish to be transported should therefore 
be caught from among younger, earlier spawning individuals. 
Day (1884) related that Colonel Meynell, of Yarm, in Yorkshire, kept these fish 
for four years in a fresh-water pond, which had no communication with the sea; and 
he observed that Yarrell states that they continued to thrive and propagated abun- 
dantly. He said that the pond being frozen over did not affect them, and they did 
not lose either flavor or quality (Wern. Mem. December 17, 1825). Day further 
remarked that according to Southwell, Mr. Egerton acclimatized smelts in fresh 
water in a lake at Roselherne Manor, Knutsford, Cheshire, and that many were 
kept alive in tanks in the Norwich fish market until required for use. 
Concerning these fish Day said that W. Wankly of Grange-over-Sands, Lanca- 
shire, sent an account of them to Land and Water, and observed he was much struck 
with the very rapid growth of the sparling from October to March — in October, 
44699—27 23 
