LAKE TROUT. 
15 
small fish in its stomach and still be voracious enough to seize the bait on the troll. As a matter 
of fact the editor of the Sportsman was present and aided in the counting of the fish, and can 
vouch for the accuracy of Dr. Hamlin’s statement.” 
A correspondent of Forest and Stream of October 30, 1890, in an article entitled “Lake 
Trout Notes” says: “The voracity of the species may be appreciated from the fact that fifty- 
nine smelts have been found in a 7 lb. individual caught at Bristol, N. H. Last winter at 
Winnesquam Lake a 17j lb. fish, caught through the ice, had in its stomach a pebble about as 
big in circumference as a copper cent, and an entire, very rusty fish hook.” 
The present writer’s notes contain mention of two togue weighing 3 and 3s pounds, respec- 
tively, caught in Telos Lake, September 20, 1901, the stomachs of both of which contained only 
large quantities of sticklebacks (Gasterosteus). Another 5-lb. female caught in the river pool 
below Chamberlain Lake dam September 23, contained also some sticklebacks; another 5-lb. 
male, caught in Chamberlain Lake, September 25, contained a chub {Semotilus hullaris) about 
5 inches long and a lot of sticklebacks, besides a piece of bark. A 4-lb. fish caught September 
26, in Eagle Lake, contained many sticklebacks and one partly digested cyprinid. Three small 
togue caught in the same lake September 28 were full of sticklebacks and one contained two other 
fish, perhaps chubs. In 1902, May 25, at Moosehead Lake, a 6j-lb. togue caught by trolling 
with shiner bait at the surface contained many dipterous insects resembling winged ants in size 
and appearance. Two S. fontinalis, one of 3 lbs. and one of 1 lb., caught at about the same time 
and in the same way were gorged with the same kind of instj^H which were very abundant, 
having fallen upon the water. 
Bkeeding Habits. 
The Fishery Industries states that in the spawning time they approach the shore, but do 
not ascend the rivers, and although they are known to exist in a few inland lakes, connected 
with the main lakes by rapids, there is no record of their having been seen or taken in the outlets. 
The localities selected by the trout for their spawning are usually rock bottoms in from fifteen 
fathoms to seven feet of depth. 
They begin to spawn in the latter part of October in the Great Lakes region. Farther 
north they seem to begin a month or so earlier. In New England the season varies somewhat 
but does not differ much from that of the Great Lakes region. Not much seems to have been 
learned regarding its spawning habits and life history. Milner reported that a female of 24 
pounds carries about 14,943 eggs. The fish is said to reach matiu-ity at about three years of 
age, and as usually taken contains at that time not over 5,000 or 6,000 eggs, or about 1,000 to 
the pound of fish. 
The eggs hatch in the spring when the water begins to warm. The Fishery Industries, 
quoting from Milner, says: “Of the habits of young trout I am entirely destitute of information. 
