FRESH-WATER FISHES OP WASHINGTON COUNTY, MAINE. 
47 
MEDDYBEMPS LAKE AND DENNYS RIVER. 
MEDDYBEMPS LAKE. 
On October S, witk the object of making an examination of Dennys River, we 
went, with a guide and canoe, to Meddybemps, where some fishing was done in Meddy- . 
beinps Lake, but with little success. This lake is abon 1 12 miles long and 5 or fi miles 
wide, of irregular shai)e, and contains several small, wooded islands and one of fairly 
large size. It has an area of about 20,000 acres. For the most part, so far as we could 
determine, the sliores and bottom are rocky, comiiosed of large and small bowlders, 
with some granite ledges along the shore. At the lower end the lake was shallow, 
but our visit was made during the low- water season, marks on the rocks indicating 
that at certain times the depth becomes 1 or 5 feet greater. The water is cool and 
fairly clear, and in our judgment would aftbrd an admirable place for salmon, trout, 
or togue, were not black bass and pickerel common in the lake, there being, however, 
fewer pickerel than black bass. The other fishes said to inhabit the lake are white 
perch {Morone cumriccuia)^ yellow perch, eels, smelts, alewives, chubs, and suckers. 
At the outlet of the lake is a dam about 20 feet long. The gate, about 0 feet wide, 
was closed, but is open, we were told, most of the season. A fishway exists at one 
end of the dam, but no water was flowing through it at this time. A few rods below 
is a bridge, with an aperture of about 20 feet, the latter being obstructed by a closely 
made slat fence, having a narrow gate opening into a short sluiceway, wliich extends 
into a box about 7 feet long by 3 feet wide, provided with a wire-netting end and 
bottom. This contrivance Avas used for catching eels, Avhich are said to pursue the 
young alewirms in great numbers as they move down from the lake into the river. 
About two dozen eels Avere in the trap at the time of our visit. At the end of a stone 
dam or Avail, between the britlge and the other dam, stands an old mill, under which is 
another fish Avay into the lake. Above this is a broad, shalloAv, muddy pool in Avhich 
the seine was hauled, but without securing any fish. 
Several hauls were made along the Avest shore of the lake, Avith little success, as 
few suitable localities for seining could be found. About 2 miles from the dam, in a 
shallow place, with muddy bottom, containing rushes and lily pads, two pickerel were 
taken, together with some mollusks {Plaiiorbis) and insects. 
DENNYS RIVER. 
Dennys Rivmr, just beloAv the dams and bridge, is about 25 feet wide, rocky, grav- 
elly, and sandy, and contains many old AAmter-logged slabs. Nine chubs, 4 to 11 inches 
long, Avere taken here. This river floAvs for about 20 miles from Meddybemps Lake to 
the village of Dennysville, through meadow land and low hills Avooded with maple, 
loAv birches, etc., together Avith occasional tracts of spruce, fir, pine, and hardAvood 
groAvths. Over a great extent the country bears evidences of the destruction of its 
forest by fire or other agency. For about 6 miles it is dead water, containing luxuriant 
growths of algiu, water grasses, weeds, Avater lilies, cat-tails, and many other fresh- 
Avater plants. Some places are very deep; others shallow. The bottom consists of 
mud and sand. Seining Avas nearly impossible on account of grass, weeds, and snags. 
Old sunken slabs were found for over a mile beloAV the mill. xYbout 14 miles below 
the lake a bank of saAvdnst, oAmrgrown with flags and rushes, occurs on an ontAvard 
curve of the river bank. Pickerel Avere seen here. At every place along this tract 
