FAMILY SALMONIDAE 115 



on November 29, 1923 took off Knife River, in deep waters of nearly 50 

 fathoms, a ripe male and a female of this subspecies which produced 3294 

 eggs (18 ounces, at 183 eggs per ounce) . The female was estimated to 

 weigh 20 pounds, so the eggs taken must have represented but a small 

 proportion of the number actually produced, the loss occurring no doubt 

 through the change in pressure when the fish came to the surface. The 

 eggs were fertilized with lake trout milt and were held in river water for 

 hatching, but did not hatch until May 22, 1924, a period of nearly six 



Fignre 13. Siscowet, Cristivomer naniaycush siscowet, 18 inches long, caught 

 at 70 fathoms, Lake Superior. 



months. The fry produced from these eggs were reared to yearlings be- 

 fore being released into Lake Superior. 



A notable feature during the entire sojourn of these fishes in the 

 hatchery was the position they assumed while not actively swimming 

 about. The body was inclined at an angle of about 35 degrees from the 

 horizontal, with head up and tail down. This position was maintained 

 at all times except when the fish was darting about. 



Several specimens caught off Grand Marais had smaller swim blad- 

 ders than the lake trout, with much thicker walls. The viscera were 

 coated with heavy layers of oily fat. This fish is extraordinarily fat and 

 has a thick skin. It is not much esteemed locally as a food fish but is 

 shipped East, where it is smoked and sold. Little is known of the habits 

 of the siscowet, except that it frequents the deepest waters of the lake, 

 seldom ascending above a depth of 300 feet. It feeds on sculpins and 

 various species of Leucichthys. 



GENUS Oncorhyiichus Suckley 



This genus contains the various species of Pacific salmon, all of which 

 enter fresh water to spawn and die. At least one species has been un- 

 successfullv introduced into Minnesota and other northern states. 



