Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1865-11-10

the longe and the trout IN outward appear
snce, no one can fail to perceive the differ
ence in the quality of the flesh. In this case
''the proof of the pudding is emphatically
IN the eating" The meat of the longe is
coarser, less rich, and far less finely favored.
This fish, however, which is the same as the
salmon trout of the great Western lakes, Is
esteemed excellent for the table.
But it is the common trout, or brook
trout, as it has been termed by naturalists,
by way of distinguishment, which is the fish,
or the king fish of all the fishes IN the
whole world for the table. In no part of
the world, perhaps, was it ever found in
such perfection as in the pure mountain
waters of the interior OF Vermont and
what was no less important, was their won
derful abnndance-so great, in fact. that
with the facility with which they were ia
ken, the first settlers could on any day dur
ing the summer months, supply themselves
with plentiful meals by half an hours fish
ing in the first streams at hand All the
streams indeed, were literally swarming and
alive with them. In our younger days we
had it from the lips of Jacob Davis. who with
his brother Thomas. came to Montpelier
with his father, Colonel Davis, when the
latter first reached here, and took possession
of the hunters camp standing where the
jail-hOuse now stands. that the next morn
ing after their arrival be took a hook and
line, and with a piece OF pork for II bait.
and half bushel basket 10 hold the fish,
went down to the Branch, and threw IN.
The next instant, he said. tine trout shot out
from all directions in such numbers as 70
blacken the water and throw the whole
space into foam, in competition TO secure
the bait. So excited had he become in pull
ing them out that before he had realized
how many he was getting be had filled his
basket with splendid trout, weighing one
and two pounds each. Thomas In his natur-
al History places the highest limit in the
weight OF trout in Vermont at three pounds.
That statement was not formerly, and is not
even now, applicable to the largest trout
caught in this part of the State Thomas Da-
Wis, before mentioned, caught one, in the
deep hole few rods below the State street
bridge over the Branch that weighed about
five pounds. One was caught, by Paul
Knapp, we believed, at the falls where
Langdon's mills now sand on Onion River,
before the dam was erected, that weighed
over five pounds. AID Daniel Harris. late of
Worcester, caught one few years after, at
GoOdenow' mills, above Montpelier, weight
ing four pounds and three-quarters Numer-
Gus Others in our different streams were sub
sequently caught weighing three, four and
four and half pounds; while one was
caught in Berlin pond that weighed SIX
pounds. Our writers ON natural history as
seit that the regular Brook trout never
reach the last named size. But they are
mistaken. Umbagog lake trout, which are
the rial, reach that size and even a greater,
was some years ago demonstrated in a pond
in the woods near the source OF the Merri-
mac. To this pond, where there was no fish
before, trout caught IN small brook,
and carried In pail to the spot, were con-
veyed In good condition. Within eight
years after trout were caught there even TO
the weight of twelve pounds. This great
difference in the size of trout in different wa
ters-and such difference is everywhere
observed-is probably caused by the differ
ent quantities of good food, and the differ
ent degrees of the GOODNESS and the purity of
the waters they inhabIt.
The beautiful and delicious fish which
we are treating of, are, we all regret to
know, year 10y year rapidly diminishing
This is not wholly produced. as many sup
pose, by the great amount Of fishing to which
they are subjected. There are other causes
From mistaken policy, perch and pick, rel
have been introduced into the creates part
of those ponds in this State, which before
were fruitful source of supply of trout for
the streams, but which soon became entirely
cleared OF trout from tho ravages Of these
hostile and voraci0us fish Yet another
cause may be found IN the clearing upof the
forests, and letting in the sun so as 10 deprive
the waters of the shade and GOODNESS.
which seems to be indispensable to their
as formerly if not to their exis-
tence. Trout viii not flourish without shade
and the consequent cooler waters Streams
and shallOwer ponds soon lose their trout al
ter their banks are denudcd of their once
cooling forests and now it is only such deep
ponds as those of Peacham and Greensboro.
which with Iheir depth of IS 70 100 iect of
water offer a refuge to the trout in warm
weather, that still maintain their stock of
this excellent fish undiminished.-Mo Montpelier
Patriot.