BLUEBACK TROUT. 
33 
or exceptionally as the ordinary sucker; like the latter, they will in the breeding season take a 
bait but it is the exception and not the rule. The blueback is not considered a biting or game 
fish, yet I have caught a bushel and a half in a day with a baited hook. They are mostly caught 
in dip nets.” 
But the Report for 1878 states that they haunt the deep water in ponds, where they may be 
freely taken in summer with a baited hook in about forty feet of water. In the Forest and 
Stream for January 4, 1883, Mr. Rich states that in 1844 they were taken in large quantities 
by the Rangeley people, mostly the poorer classes. The fish were never fished for with a baited 
hook but either netted or speared. The method of netting, he states, was usually with “nets” 
consisting of bags with ash bows and handles which were set at the ends of sluice ways made for 
the purpose of guiding the fish into the nets. In this way several bushels would be secured by 
each man in a night. In the American Angler of April 14, 1883, Mr. Rich says that they run 
up the brooks at night and back in the morning, so that the only time to get them was during 
the night, and large quantities of them were secured. Fish ways were made through which they 
had to pass, and improvised hand nets were used, and an equal chance was given all the settlers 
that went for them. Mr. Rich continued; “These fish are sometimes taken with a baited hook, 
so I am informed by our Fish Conunissioner, Mr. Stanley; yet I have tried them time and again 
with fly and bait, but never succeeded in taking one or even attracting their attention.” 
Mr. H. O. Stanley, writing in Forest and Stream of May 5, 1887, said that they were not 
biting fish any more than the sucker, but that he had occasionally caught one or two at a time 
when fishing in deep water in the summer. 
Captain F. C. Barker {1. c.) stated that the Blueback would sometimes take a bait in deep 
water, but knew of no case of their taking a fly. Mr. J. Parker Whitney stated (1. c.) that they 
were caught by wading in the shallows with a lantern and a dip net. 
The Forest and Stream of August 6, 1898, contained a communication from a Rangeley 
Lakes correspondent in which it was stated that a Blueback was reported to have been taken 
recently by trolling. 
Uses. 
Referring to a special exemption of the Blueback from protection by the law applying to 
other trout, the following appeared in Forest and Stream of November 2(5, 1874: “This exemp- 
tion is properly and wisely made, as it enables the settlers in that section to supply themselves 
with quantities of superior fish food, which smoked and salted adds very materially to the limited 
bill of fare for the season.” 
From the Forest and Stream of November 15, 1877, it seems to have been marketed to 
some extent. The following report is quoted: “The first of the Rangeley blue-backs have come 
to the market from Maine and will be as usual at Mr. E. G. Blackford’s stall in Fulton Market.” 
