FKESH-WATEK FISHES OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, MAINE. 
51 
THE WESTERN GRAND LAKE SYSTEM. 
Tbe Western Grand Lake System is tlie source of tlie West BraucU of the St. Oroix 
or Schoodic Eiver. This system of rivers and lakes is about 50 miles long, through 
the Schoodic River, Leweys, Long, Big’, Grand, Pocompus, and Sysladobsis lakes, 
with their coiiiiectiug streams and thoroughfares; with a few short portages an almost 
contiuuous canoe passage can be made from Princeton, at the foot of Leweys Lake, 
to Passa-dumkeag, on the Penobscot Eiver, a distance of over 85 miles. 
Grand Lake, the largest of the chain, is about 12 miles long and in the widest place 
0 miles broad. At its western end it receives, through “The Thoroughfare,” the water 
of five or six small lakes lying to the northward, in the towns of Carroll and Kossuth, 
and iu townships 5 aud 6. Other connecting lakes are Pocompus, Sysladobsissis, 
Sysladobsis at the west, and Wabawsoos at the southwest. These tributary waters 
are said to be similar in their main characteristics to Grand Lake. Sysladobsis is the 
largest, being somewhat over 15 miles long, but it is narrow. It contains landlocked 
salmon and togue, but neither is at all abundant. Other fishes, such as suckers, 
chubs, pickerel, white perch, etc., are also present. 
Grand Lake is deep in some places, having a depth of fully 20 fathoms, aud its 
waters are clear and cool. The bottom and shores are composed of various-sized 
bowlders; there is little sand or grass, or in fact any character of bottom attractive to 
pickerel or other fish loving sluggish water. Landlocked salmon are plentiful, the 
adults ranging in weight from IJ to 5 pounds. Togue (Salvelinus namaycush) reaching 
a weight of 30 pounds are common. Brook trout up to 2 i)ounds are abundant in the 
lakes, while the small tributary streams and brooks are well supplied with smaller 
individuals. A species of whiteflsh {Coregomis lahradoricus), which is caught iu gill 
nets after November 1 , appears in “The Thoroughfare ” at that season to si)awn. This 
thoroughfare, situated at the head of Grand Lake, is about the oidy place where this 
fish is caught iu quantities. Koue was obtained by us. 
Grand Lake Stream is a rapid, rocky stream, with numerous gravelly pools. It 
is about 2^ miles long, and connects Grand Lake with Big Lake. Over most of its 
course the current is quite swift aud two considerable rapids exist; one (called Great 
Falls) is about a half mile, the other (Little Falls) about 2 miles below the dam at 
Grand Lake. The remaining distance of half a mile has a smooth gravel bottom, 
which might afford spawning-beds for such fish as resort to that character of ground; 
but it is said few landlocked salmon are ever seen there. Just below the dam, at 
the foot of Grand Lake, is a deep pool with gravel bottom, aud from this extend 
shallow rips, gradually deeiiening until they reach the swift current below. At the 
side of the rips are eddies aud pools with sand aud silt bottoms. Many landlocked 
salmon were seen spawning iu the pool and beneath the bridge a short distance below. 
A canal, which serves as a sluiceway to the tannery, where landlocked salmon are 
also saiel to spawn, connects the lake with the stream. A few landlocked salmon 
were seen in the tannery end of the canal. On the rips and in the eddies young' 
landlocked salmon, from 3 to 5 or 6 inches long, were very common. 
The following fishes were taken with the seinedn the above places on October 19:: 
Gat ostomus teres. Young; very common. | BhinioMliys atronasus. Common. 
Notropis megalops. Abundant. | Semotilus buUaris. Young; common. 
