Landlocked Salmon

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YE, A LANDLOCKED SALMON

5TATE OF NEW' YORK - di) N 5 E. RV AT I 0 ti DEPARTMENT STATE OF NEW YORK CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT

Perry B. Duryea, Commissioner J. Victor Skiff, Dep. Com. Robt.A. Wells, Secy.

This is the second of a series of progress reports from Fish and Game researchers and field men, Present- ing important findings from their day to day work. Through these bulletins, the Conservation Department is Providing an opportunity for all Persons interested in our wildlife to be fully and promptly informed on the latest developments in fish and game management.

AN INFORMATION SERVICE PROVIDED BY THE DIVISION OF FISH AND GAME

J.T. Mahoney, Director Win. C. Senning, Asst. Dir. FOREWORD

New York anglers have enjoyed comparatively little good fishing for landlocked salmon. Fewlakes have any of these highly-prized game fish, which are too few and far between in the lakes where they do exist. This situation should be changed if it is possible to do so for many lakes appear to be well-suited to produce landlocks. Success will depend upon finding out how to build up this resource and upon facilities with which to work. This was recognized at the start of an intensive salmon project begun in 1944. At the beginning, the outlook was far from bright. Today it's apparent that the turning point has been reached. Already the supply of salmon has been materially increased in the waters concerned. The 1948 yield of spawn, vital to any enlarged fish cultural operation, was over 35 quarts (over 150,000 eggs) and a progress- ive increase each year is in sight. The report which follows is to be considered as a progress report on an undertaking which is as yet far from complete. The final answer as to how far this project can go cannot now be written. It will take some years to build uP landlocked salmon fishing to the ultimate capacity of our extensive lakes. From what has been learned already about effective methods of management, together with progress made toward improving facilities with which to work, there is every reason to expect that the chances of New York anglers to hook a salmon will grow brighter each year.

Commissioner Jour Yeari o tandlocked Salmon Study The Atlantic salmon is readily dis- tinguished by ichthyologists from other species such as the Pacific group. The landlocked salmon has variously been regarded either as a subspecies of or as indistinguishable from the Atlantic species. If there are actually differences between salmon which are permanently resident in fresh waters (i.e., landlocked), it would be desirable to know this, especially to find out what strains or blood lines are of greatest practical value for New York lakes. Eventually, perhaps, salmon from various loca- tions can be thoroughly tested against The Objective each other but for our present purposes a landlocked salmon may be defined as any permanently fresh-water Atlantic salmon whether it results from many generations of fresh-water residence or not. Lake Ontario and Lake Champlain were originally inhabited by salmon. Comparatively early in the history of New York fish culture, attempts to establish these fish in various inland lakes were made. These efforts, not to be confused with stocking of "salmon trout" (lake trout), were attended with varying success. There were many failures and the successful estab- lishments of breeding landlocked salmon populations were of very limited scope. Crver a long period of years salmon eggs were collected and the fish propagated from them were stocked. The spawning runs remained too small, however, to enable large fish cultural developments with this species in New York waters. Due to the interest of numerous persons in the establishment of better salmon angling, legislative action was taken in 1944 by enactment of a bill carrying appropriation of $7,500 for a study "to determine the practica- bility of increasing landlocked salmon in waters of the State." Work was begun immediately and progress reports were submitted covering activities of each year. After expenditures of the original appropriation in 1945 the salmon project has been and is being continued as a regular part of Fish and Game Division activities. In its objectives, this project is state-wide but experimental work must of necessity be confined to certain waters. Organization of effort for the project has involved close cooperation of various personnel. The Bureau of FiSh and Wildlife Investigations is re- sponsible for field survey work and planning of management. The Bureau of Fish culture participates by propagating salmon and assisting in the collection of eggs necessary for this work. The Supervisor of Fish Manage-

3 ment has directed the construction of two weirs utilized for trapping salmon and as barriers to control undesirable fish. The Bureau of Inland Fisheries has participated by netting salmon for eggs and in controlling undesirable fish. The Bureau of Law Enforcement has cooperated in gather- ing information and in stocking. Throughout the progress of experimental work the interest of large numbers of sportsmen and others interested in recreational development has been high. The help of all those who have assisted in various phases of the work is gratefully acknowledged. Material help has been provided by the Vermont Department of Conservation and Development in supplying landlocked salmon in 1944 and 1945; the Dominion of Canada Depart- ment of Fisheries has similarly assisted in supplying Atlantic salmon eggs on an exchange basis. In summarizing work of the last four years, it should be kept in mind that the future is more important than the past. Fortunately nothing that has been learned is discouraging to the hopes of many anglers that good landlocked salmon fishing can be attained on an extensive scale in New York waters. In fact the experimental work has materially improved salmon fishing already, particularly in the Schroon Lake area. At the end of the four-year period enough has been learned to justify material expansion of efforts as rapidly as possible. Bearing in mind that the project was started during the war, at a time when any new facilities were difficult to develop and that the lack of a large supply of salmon eggs would of itself have limited expansion of propagation, it is still necessary to proceed on an experimental scale and expand rather gradually.

LINES OF INVESTIGATION In developing an experimental management program a large amount of background information was taken into account. For example, many plantings of landlocked salmon had failed, indicating that heavy stocking alone could not be regarded as an adequate method. Likewise natural reproduction, over a long periodcof years, had not built up consistently large salmon populations. As both reproduction and stocking were believed to be greatly affected by various environmental factors, it was decided that the change of effective limiting factors of environments constituted a problem requir- ing careful work. The control of undesirable fish, those conflicting with salmon production, was believed to be a particularly productive field. The life history of salmon, although known in a general way, required some detailed investigation such as the location of spawning areas and suitable areas for production of young fish. Limiting factors in lake environments should not be overlooked but in view of a number of age determinations made from lake specimens showing favorable growth rate, a primary need for stream work was indicated. Very young salmon are stream fish. Unless produced in quantity by a stream or grown to advanced size for direct stocking in a lake, young fish cannot of course reach even the most suitable of lakes. Normally young salmon do not change from stream 4 to lake environment until about five inches and attainment of a silvery (smolt) stage. The early (parr) growth is slow but highly variable (from one to three years). Stream problems are important to solve, for direct stocking of salmon of advanced size in lakes would be an expensive undertaking for any lake of large acreage. Salmon investigations have been carried on with fish from both landlocked and sea-run origin. In order to differentiate the latter, they are called Atlantic salmon. They are indistinguishable from our own landlocks when grown under similar conditions in hatcheries and are being studied carefully to determine if they are equally suitable for our lakes.

METHODS Fin-clipping has proven to be a highly useful means for checking results of experimental management. By removing one or more fins, various lots of small salmon have been marked and on subsequent recoveries results of experiments have been followed. Tag- ging has been used to a more limited extent by use of numbered metal tags. Two weirs, built on the Schroon River and on Mill Brook (a tributary of Upper Saranac Lake) have proven useful as barriers to keep undesirable fish from migrating into salmon areas and in the trapping of adult salmon for spawn or for examination. An electric shocker, consisting of gasoline motor generator and accesso- ries, has proven effective for removal of undesirable fish in Mill Brook at the Saranac hatchery so as to favor West Branch of survival of stocked salmon. the chroon The usual methods of netting with small trap nets proved effective in several areas for taking of salmon and control of suckers and other competitors. In the fish cultural aspects of the salmon project, a new method for obtaining eggs is being tested out in holding a permanent brood stock. This has been partially successful, small numbers of fry being reared from the first crop of eggs, taken in 1947. The 1948 yield of eggs appears to be of better quality and is being tested against eggs from wild breeders. An annual check of natural reproduction has been carried on in the Schroon River by field observations during the spawning period (October and November) and early period of fry emergence (May and June). Observations in success of establishment of planted salmon have been made subsequent to several of the experimental plantings. Food habits have been studied on a limited scale by examination of both wild and recently planted salmon. 5 Lake and stream surveys, including taking of various biological data, have been employed in advance of the selection of areas for experimental work. Cooperative work has been organized in order to obtain observations and reports from various observers as to the success of salmon and value as a fishing resource in local areas. The usual age determination methods have been applied to find out, from scale samples, the ages and rates of growth of salmon taken in various New York waters. A considerable amount of effort has been directed to improvement of fish cultural work with salmon such as the carrying of these fish at various hatcheries to determine the water supplies and other conditions most favorable to success.

SCOPE OF THE INVESTIGATION The selection of areas for observation and experiments has been based upon available information as to the areas best suited to the project and upon limitations imposed by the amount of salmon available for planting experiments. Salmon do not inhabit small ponds. To learn much of value toward future management, lakes of considerable size need to be selected but very large waters need to be avoided — these efforts to be in proportion to the hatchery output available for experimental stocking. Schroon Lake (4,230 acres) was selected as the principal area for study. This body of water was known to have an established population of salmon; it has many large tributaries and generally more to work with in developing salmon management than any other New York lake. Upper Saranac Lake (4,868 acres) was considered an important area for study because it long has had an established salmon population that has yielded in some years a considerable number of eggs for propagation. The principal inlet stream is adjacent to the Saranac hatchery and was considered a favorable area for management experiments. Clear Pond (186 acres), an area which has supported salmon consistently over a long period of time, was also selected for study at the start of the project. Other areas on which experimental work with salmon has been started within the four-year period are: Eagle Lake (410 acres), Lake Eaton (576 acres), Paradox Lake (896 acres) and Lake George (28,416 acres). Lake George is much larger than any of the other waters and cannot be stocked heavily in relation to its size at present output of salmon. However, it was considered desirable to test out planting methods in several tributaries by use of fin-clipped fish. The entire area involved in the experimental work totals 39,582 acres.

NATURAL REPRODUCTION Successful natural reproduction is highly desirable, if not essential, in management of salmon resources for keeping up a supply in large lakes by 6 stocking alone would be prohibitively uneconomical. Comparatively few New York waters show evidence that landlocked salmon reproduce successfully but such waters where salmon have persisted without regular stocking do exist. Before the present salmon study was started in 1944, some observations on reproduction were made. In 1940 Dr. U. B. Stone located several spawning areas on the Schroon River and at outlet of Clear Pond. These areas have been repeatedly checked since, resulting in considerable data bearing on reproduction. It has been apparent that a number of factors affect or may affect the quantity of young salmon which a stream produces. In brief these factors may be either in the number of breeders (insuffi- cient spawning) or in survivals of eggs, fry or later stages. At Clear Pond very few spawning areas and very few fry have been observed. The outlet affords favorable conditions in that eggs hatch and fry survive but this area is very small and less suited to study than the Schroon River. Here spawning grounds are rather extensive and have produced fry in abundance in years when large numbers of spawners were observed to use them. In 1941 spawners were observed in fair numbers and the resulting fry production was good. In 1942 no observations were made. In 1943 adults were observed in good numbers and the resulting fry production was good. In 1944 salmon were much scarcer on the spawning grounds and the fry production was small. In 1945 very little salmon spawning occurred and fry production was again low. In 1946 the condition was similar but slightly better. In 1947 a comparatively large amount of spawning took place, followed by good survival of naturally-spawned young. In general the observations indicate that the Schroon River spawning grounds are rather well-suited to fry production but that breeders and fry production have been scarce in most years. Very recent check of natural spawning indicated that 1948 exceeded any of the other years noted above, on the basis of eggs deposited by salmon in the October-November breeding season. Survivals of salmon are difficult to estimate quantitatively throughout the entire first year or subsequently. Previous to the start of the project in 1944, observations indicated some numbers of rock bass, smallmouth bass, sunfish and other fish, of probable detriment to survival of small salmon. This is one reason why a weir was constructed and operated as a• fish barrier. During 1945 considerable numbers of rock bass were prevented from ascending into the salmon spawning area and the following year, 1946, yearling salmon from natural reproduction were noted in encouraging numbers. Due in part to very poor spawning years in 1945 and 1946 the effect of a change in fish population of the Schroon River on survival of small salmon cannot be very closely evaluated. Field observations indicate that rock bass were apparently absent in 1947 with smallmouth bass very scarce. Brook trout showed an apparent increase in this year and in 194.8. As has been mentioned, the recent increase in young salmon is encouraging. The upturn in spawners noted in 1947 was in part due to planted salmon, many marked individuals of former plants being taken. The success of 7 Schroon River Weir with Fish Trap in Place

8 natural reproduction will be observed in order to determine whether or not improvement in survival from natural reproduction has been brought about. If, by building the number of spawners and decreasing undesirable fish the reproduction can be stabilized at a high level and salmon may be effectively increased, this method can be applied elsewhere. So far, there is every reason to believe that natural reproduction has been greatly aided by the experimental management steps which have so far been taken in the Schroon River.

INCREASING SURVIVAL OF STOCKED SALMON Taking into account the history of many unsuccessful attempts to establish landlocked salmon by stocking and the limited supply of these fish for planting, the need for developing a high efficiency of stocking is clear. Solution of this problem requires a close adaptation of salmon stocking to the condition of local environments, control of environment, or both. Several of the planting experiments were undertaken under partially controlled environment. The Schroon River was not stocked, in 1944 and 1945, until completion of the weir had given some measure of control over undesirable fish. At Mill Brook, in section adjacent to the Saranac hatchery, salmon were planted following removal of most of the former fish population, including many large trout of predatory proclivities. In addition to these experiments, characterized by some control of environmental conditions (fish population), several planting experiments were made under normal stream and lake conditions. These introductions were planned following environmental surveys in the effort to plant the right sizes at the most favorable conditions. For example lakes were stocked only with salmon of advanced size (smolt stage or closely approaching this) and at times when food supply appeared to be favorable. Stream planting was aimed at a sparse enough distribution so as to prevent over- crowding, at placing salmon in favorable type of water (especially rapid sections), at adjusting to observed food supplies of aquatic insects and at timing plantings at favorable temperatures for immediate feeding activity. Planting plans were based upon observed habits of wild salmon of certain sizes. If or when large numbers of these fish become available for planting experiments, it will be possible to check the comparative success of different methods. Due in part to the limited number of experiments and the need for at least a four or five-year check on each, results can at present be summed up only approximately: 1. Fall planting fingerling landlocked salmon from Saranac hatchery 1944 made in Schroon River. Established favorably, feeding on aquatic insects during the fall. Several were found the following spring. Unfortunately this plant was unmarked but salmon of this age group which later appeared in considerable numbers were probable evidence of good survival. 2. Marked spring planting yearlings landlocked salmon from St. Johnsbury (Vermont) hatchery made in Schroon River in 1945. 9 Established favorably. Survival was excellent producing some legal-sized salmon in 1947 and fish of 3I/2 to 4-pound range in 1948. These fish were checked in spawning runs of 1946 (males only), 1947 and 1948 in Schroon River. 3. Marked fall planting same group as No. 2 made in Schroon River 1945. Several recoveries as legal-sized fish were made. 4. Marked spring and fall plantings same group of fish as No 2 made in Eagle Lake in 1945. Several recoveries in 1946 by netting and 1947 by angling and netting. 5. Marked fall planting same group of fish as No. 2 made in Clear pond in 1945. Recoveries were made during 1946, 1947 and 1948. Several females yielded eggs at end of fourth and fifth seasons. 6. Fall planting fingerling landlocked salmon from Warrensburg hatchery made in Mill Brook in 1945. These established favorably. Growth for those which remained where planted was good throughout 1946. A number of fish of this age group were later recovered in Upper Saranac Lake. 7. Marked summer planting yearling landlocked salmon from St. Johnsbury (Vermont) hatchery made in Mill Brook in 1946. These established favorably. Many were recovered here in 1947 and others in Upper Saranac Lake. 8. Marked spring planting two-year-old Atlantic salmon from Cale- donia hatchery made in Eagle Lake in 1947. Ne checks are available. 9. Marked fall planting same group as No. 8 but from Cambridge hatchery made in Eagle Lake in 1947. No checks are available. 10. Fall planting same group as No. 8 from Cambridge and Rome hatcheries made in Lake Eaton in 1947. No checks are available. 11. Marked spring planting yearling Atlantic salmon from Cambridge hatchery made in Schroon River and The Branch 1947. These established favorably, several recoveries in 1947 as parr, growing well. Recent checks yielded valuable data indicating that some of these fish, males only, came back in the 1948 spawning run when three years old. 12. Marked spring planting yearling landlocked salmon from Cam- bridge hatchery made in Mill Brook in 1947. No checks are available. 13. Marked fall planting yearling Atlantic salmon same group as No. 11 and partially marked plant of fingerling Atlantic salmon from Cambridge hatchery made in Schroon River in 1947. Both sizes established favorably. Spring recoveries of marked individuals indicated successful survivals. 14. Partially marked spring planting yearling Atlantic salmon from Cambridge made in three tributaries of Lake George in 1948. These established favorably. They were successfully followed in one of the streams during summer observations. 15. Spring planting same group as No. 14 made in Schroon River and The Branch in 1948. Many of these fish were subsequently observed. 10 16. Marked spring planting same group as No. 14, selected for large size, made in Paradox Lake in 1948. No checks are available. Most of these plantings have either shown survivals or have been made so recently, 1947 or 1948, that the lack of follow-up data is no reason to assume total failure. Field observations have indicated that check for survival requires about four years. After planting in a lake or migration to a lake, salmon are rarely seen until at least three years old, when they may begin to be encountered by anglers as about 15-inch fish, rarely reaching legal size of 20 inches until four years. Many of the experimental plantings were too limited in number of fish to be expected to produce good salmon fishing, the primary purpose being to test methods for obtaining favorable survivals.

GROWTH RATE

A large number of scale samples have been studied, indicating a high degree of variation in individual salmon as well as significantly different growth rates for different waters. Schroon Lake salmon have a favorable rate of growth, well above the approximate average for other lakes. Most specimens from this body of water show a two-year parr history, evidently migrating from stream to lake when two years old and when less than 7 inches in length. Growth during first year after migration is rapid, three-year fish averaging about 18 inches. Four-year-olds are about 22 inches. This lake has produced salmon up to 7 years old, the scales of old fish showing a relatively slower growth of later years. Schroon Lake fish are generally heavy, weighing over 3 pounds at 20 inches. The maxi- mum weight attained exceeds 8 pounds. Departures from the two-year parr growth type are frequent. A few migrate at end of one year and such pre- cocious individuals reach legal size more rapidly. The 1945 spring plant of marked yearlings included many which migrated before close of second year and some of these fish reached 31/2 pounds at three years. A small percentage of parr remain in the Scale of Schroon Salmon Schroon River three years. Showing unusual Growth Lake George has a more rapid grotAh rate of salmon than Schroon Lake judging from the few age determinations available, also from the fact that salmon over 12 pounds have been taken there. Upper Saranac Lake, Clear Pond and Eagle Lake appear to have slower growth rates than Schroon Lake.

II RELATION OF AGE GROUPS TO ANGLING The determination of ages from samples, together with observations of size composition of spawning runs, has indicated an uneven distribution of age groups in various years in the Schroon Lake population. Information is too fragmentary to attempt to plot age distribution each year but it has been clearly evident that there has been much variation in success of survival of various year groups.. The 1938 class, from natural spawning, showed good survival. These fish furnished much of the relatively favorable fishing which was reported prior to 1943 and a few survived until 1945. The years, 1944-46 were featured by rather sparse populations of fish representing several age groups from natural spawning. In 1947 a sharp upturn in population occurred, featured by a predominance of 1944 hatch. Many of these were marked, planted salmon and others of the same age group were probably from unmarked fall plant of 1944 since natural fry were observed to be so scarce that year that it is doubtful if they could have produced the entire crop of unmarked fish of that year. A few 1943-class fish, wild reproduction, were present in 1947 but older fish were not represented in the samples. Sam- pling for 1948 has not been completed but most of the fish as yet examined are from 1944-class. What these observations are interpreted to mean in brief is that, prior to the experimental management of the Schroon Lake salmon population, the supply of salmon for angling was subject to sudden drops with failure or virtual failure of certain size groups to survive. Although it is too early to predict whether or not a favorable crop of young fish can be kept coming along each year, through management, there is reason to believe that this is all that will be necessary to do to keep up good salmon angling. Stocking was not done in 1946 and has been rather light in relation to the area involved. It is to be hoped that a reasonably stable, annual crop of young salmon can be produced in the Schroon River for a series of years, througf' either stocking or natural reproduction.

MIGRATIONS Salmon show a wide variation in tendency to wander. When young they have a very restricted range. Although the possibility of migrations in the fry stage has not been disproven, checks of areas remote from known breeding grounds have as yet shown no fry or even yearling parr during the course of the study. When approaching or having attained the silvery smolt stage, small salmon migrate long distances. Salmon in lakes are known to cruise rather widely. Marked salmon originally planted in the Upper Schroon River have been taken near the outlet of Schroon Lake. One marked salmon, planted in Clear Pond, was caught in the Schroon River many miles below. Without much doubt the establishment of a spawning population many years ago in the Schroon River was started by some Clear Pond salmon dropping downstream. 12 From time to time salmon have been taken in the outlet of Schroon Lake below the Starbuckville dam. The fact, together with the falling off of angling in Schroon Lake from time to time, has been argued by many persons to indicate a serious loss by migration. Observations in years when salmon were numerous, however, indicate that such loss is only a partial one. Moreover, this dam has a flume which salmon can apparently jump if they wish to come back and this lower part of the Schroon River appears to be desirable range for salmon so that access to it should not be barred without good reason. A small number of tags have been used to mark salmon on the Schroon River spawning areas. Recoveries, while few in number, indicate that fish move between the breeding grounds and the lake, also several returns of previous spawners have been obtained. Recoveries of fin-clipped salmon planted in the river during the breeding run prove a return of some, at least, to areas where they were planted. Fortunately for anglers, especially fly fishermen, there is a spring migration of salmon up the Schroon River, although varying considerably with weather and water conditions. The best fly fishing is in April or May, at times when considerable numbers of these fish are in the river.

PROTECTIVE REGULATIONS The present 20-inch size limit and reduction of bag limit to two salmon per day became effective in 1945. This regulation is believed to have ac- complished material benefit to salmon angling. In 1946, small salmon of about 15 to 19-inch range were numerous. Many were caught, providing considerable sport, and were returned uninjured. Toward the start of the study salmon were so scarce that several sportsmen suggested a close season on salmon during a period of years. If this were to be effected, however, it would be at the cost of closing the present channels of information to a material extent. Without some angling to check results, experiments would be difficult to conduct. Only a small percentage of salmon parr remain in most streams under observation long enough to reach 7 inches, legal size for trout. Uninten- tional losses of parr or larger salmon which may ascend streams when below the 20-inch size may be caused by trout fishermen, however. Rumors that large numbers of undersized salmon are killed incidental to trout fishing have not been substantiated but it ha,s been considered desirable to publicize the fact that care must be taken to prevent mistaking small salmon for trout and an identification leaflet has been distributed. Salmon propagation in New York is as yet rather limited in scope. Scarcity of eggs and lack of adequate facilities have slowed and will con- tinue for some time to slow the output. At the start of the project, in 1944, production of eggs from wild trapped salmon was close to an all-time low and hatchery space was already overtaxed to maintain trout production. These limitations are gradually being overcome. The 1948 collection of eggs represents a great increase over available egg supply in any previous

13 year. It has been considered essential to build up our own supply of landlocked salmon breeders, either in the wild or domesticated state or both. Yearling salmon supplied by the Vermont Department of Conservation and Development have materially assisted in this and, after planting and subsequent trapping, yielded a large percentage of the eggs taken in 1947. The yield of 38,100 eggs represented a three-fold increase over 1945 or 1946 productions. Th 1948 egg collection is over 125,000 as this is written and will undoubtedly exceed the 150,000 mark. The take of eggs from wild-trapped salmon was 21,930 in 1947 and fry survival from these at Warrensburg hatchery was excellent. With strip- ping still incomplete, the total collection from wild fish for 194.8 exceeds 60,000 eggs. A few of the hatchery breeders, held at Crown Point in a special pool constructed for this purpose, yielded eggs in 1947 totalling 16,170. These eggs, handled in the same water supply and by the same methods, proved inferior to wild eggs. The hatch was excellent but the sac fry mortality was high, apparently due to some intrinsic weakness in the eggs. A few healthy First Atlantic Salmon Caught fry were obtained and it is probable that a slight change in feeding of the breeders may give better eggs in 1948. Experiments are in progress with the 64,250 eggs yielded by 57 females of this lot. Although brown trout and other species have been successfully kept as hatchery breeders, this procedure with salmon is a pioneer undertaking and exact information on methods is' not available except as gained through actual experience. Atlantic salmon eggs, obtained through the cooperation of the Dominion of Canada Department of Fisheries, have proven valuable in testing out various hatcheries for adaptability to rearing of salmon as well as in yield- ing more fish for stocking experiments than would otherwise have been available. Experience has indicated that salmon require higher feeding temperatures than brook trout and cannot be reared effectively in some hatcheries on that account. Warrensburg, having a spring water supply several degrees warmer in winter than many other hatcheries, has given excellent results in hatching and growth of fry. Yearling salmon and larger stages have consistently done well at Crown Point where creek water is available to raise the temperatures of the spring water supply by mixing the two supplies. Summer growth of salmon at Cambridge hatchery has been good throughout the first year.

14 SALMON IN RELATION TO ANGLING A distinction exists between angling for landlocked salmon and merely catching one. Wherever there are a few salmon in a lake these fish are likely to be occasionally taken incidental to the pursuit of other species, but this is not salmon fishing. To be worthy of the name such angling must be reliable enough to attract steady effort, to be a pursuit of itself and not a by-product. Measured by this standard there is as yet comparatively little salmon fishing in New York. The Schroon Lake area, including Schroon River, is an exception in that a number of persons have regularly fished here for landlocked salmon over a period of years. With the sharp upturn of fishing in 1947 the number of anglers increased rapidly. In 1948 interest has been high and angling heavy. During this season good catches were made very early in April but, following very cold weather during the second week of that month, catches dropped off abruptly. It would be unwarranted to assume that salmon fishing will be identical in other lakes if and when the supply of these game fish has been built up. In fact enough angling observations on the other lakes have indicated that each lake is more or less distinctive both in size and behavior of salmon. Schroon Lake has an exceptionally large inlet stream, the Schroon River, and a spring run. During this time good fly fishing is to be expected but salmon are taken by a wide variety of other lures. When scattered over a lake salmon are generally more difficult to take. It is by no means necessary to plan salmon management as the primary angling attraction of a lake. There is reason to believe that, in many environments productive of other types of angling, salmon would not be detrimental to other angling resources. Large fish of this type eat various forage fish such as smelt, small perch and others. In many environments, fisheries biologists consider additional predator pressure desirable rather than the opposite, for nothing damages game fish production more quickly than production of too many competitors of non-game types.

LANDLOCKED SALMON AS AN ECONOMIC ASSET Many circumstances combine to indicate that the development of extensive resources of landlocked salmon in New York lakes would represent an economic asset of great value. Lakes of a deep, cold type are unusually numerous in New York and constitute recreational areas of high value. Angling in these waters varies in quality but too often is not as attractive as it could be. In fact good fishing in deep lakes is far more difficult to maintain than in shallow ones. High poundage production is biologically im- possible but fortunately such lakes produce or might be so managed as to produce fish of high quality such as various species of trout or salmon. By all standards of angling performance the landlocked salmon is clearly the best prospect of any species. A particular point in its favor is the tendency to strike artificial flies more freely than most species of trout and to produce very early sport. Recreational attractions in early spring in lakes 15 would be considerably improved. Even unfavorable weather fails to keep some of the enthusiastic salmon fishermen at home in April or May and good angling of this type is a definite economic asset to both sportsmen and business interests which benefit by recreationists being attracted to a com- munity over a longer season than usual summer attractions make possible. In view of the large acreage of lakes in need of fish management such as to make the best use of resources for both recreational and economic rea- sons, the landlocked salmon is a fish which has possibilities for becoming an important asset. SUMMARY Partially successful efforts to establish landlocked salmon angling in New York lakes date back many years, but a definite project aimed at de- termining practical methods dates from April 1944. This undertaking, now in its fifth year, is state-wide in that final conclusions will bear upon salmon management. Test work is necessarily confined to only a part of the poten- tial salmon waters. The principal lines of effort being tested are: improvement of natural reproduction, increasing survivals of stocked salmon, better angling regulations, better techniques in hatchery propagation, and the testing of Atlantic salmon to determine if they are well-suited to New York lakes as salmon of fresh-water parentage. As landlocked salmon usually require four years to attain legal size (20 inches) sufficient time has not elapsed to give conclusive data on all of the experiments now in progress. At the start of the project facilities were very limited with regard to egg supply, equipment and information. Progress has been encouraging, with a definite improvement of salmon angling in the Schroon Lake area being largely due to the experimental management program. Definite results of progress in this same direction in other waters are apparent but in most instances further checks are necessary as the salmon resource that has been built up consists of fish too young to support angling. Atlantic salmon and fish from fresh-water lake parentage seem indistinguishable when reared in identical conditions, and recent recoveries of mature Atlantic salmon show they are in fact suited to lakes but additional time will be necessary to test them out completely. The increase in salmon resources has already contributed to the egg production available fo1 propagation purposes. Trapping of wild salmon yielded many more eggs in 1948 than in previous years. In 1948 a sub- stantial increase in eggs from hatchery breeders (salmon grown in a special pond constructed for this purpose) were obtained. The quality of eggs from this source requires checking but, in view of the successful survival of part of the fry from the first crop of such eggs (1947), it seems likely that it will be possible to develop an effective hatchery brood stock. The more that has been learned about landlocked salmon in the waters under observation during the last four years, the more evident it seems that good landlocked salmon fishing on an extensive scale can be obtained with time, with increase of facilities in propagation and management fields, and with the application of facts based on study and experiment. 16 TO GET THESE AND OTHER PUBLICATIONS REGULARLY Write Secretary, Conservation Dept., Albany and ask to be placed on the mailing list REAL CONSERVATION PROGRESS DETVIDS 01301 PI ILLIC FNDERSTANDING