WHITE TROUT OF THE SCOODIAC, OR ST. CROIX.
I am unable to give a scientific description of these beautiful and
delicious fish, and believe they have never been properly described.
They however closely resemble a dwarfed salmon, and have been supposed
to be these fish landlocked, prevented, by a natural or artificial
obstruction, from completing their annual migrations to and from the
sea. The better opinion, however, is that they are a distinct fish, and
the color of their sides naturally suggests the above appellation,
although they have no popular name. The name Scoodic is applied
generally to the St. Croix River, its lakes and tributaries, and in
Maine they are known as the St. Croix Trout, in New Brunswick as the
Scoodic Trout, while Mr. Perley suggests that they may be the Grey
Trout.
They are, however, extremely tame and numerous, take the fly readily,
afford excellent sport, and delicious eating. They weigh from one pound
to four, and may be taken in hundreds. The season commences about the
first of June, and lasts throughout that month, and the best flies are
the gay ones, composed mainly of feathers from the golden pheasant. The
scarlet ibis and Irish lake flies are prime favorites.
The steamer of the International Line, from Boston or Portland,
connects at Eastport with a river boat for Calais, whence there is a
railroad to Lewis’ Island. From Lewis’ Island it is nine miles to the
fishing-ground, six of which are by water and three by land. A man named
Goole will take the baggage over the portage, and the best fishing is
above the Grand Falls, between the first two lakes. Inquiries must be
made at the time about the necessity of carrying the canoe across the
portage, as often no canoe can be obtained at the fishing-ground. Of
course the angler must expect to camp out, and will provide himself
accordingly.
Since the above short article was written, these fish under the name of
land-locked salmon, or Winnonish of the Indians, have received much
attention. Raised artificially in large numbers, they have been
distributed through many waters of the United States, but do not seem to
take well to their new homes. They have been domesticated at the New
York State hatchery, but nowhere can they be said to furnish wild
fishing, except in their original habitat, St. Croix and Sebago lakes
and streams.