468 AMERICAN FISHES. 



of a mackerel. The ' Namaycush ' is dry and lacks delicacy, and can- 

 not be even fried without pork-fat or lard. 



" The amateur is likely to confound the Namaycush with the Siscowet, 

 but when the differences are once pointed out, no confusion of the two 

 again arises. The fisherman recognize them before taken from the water 

 when hauling in the nets ; even the Indian children know them at a glance. 

 The head of the Siscowet is shorter and broader in proportion, eyes 

 nearer the end of nose and are wider apart ; the whole osseous structure 

 of the head lighter, more delicate and flexible, particularly the sub-max- 

 illaries, which in the Namaycush aie heavy, rigid, and rounded. The 

 coloring varies in different specimens according to locality whence 

 taken. The spots or markings are unlike those of the Namaycush, more 

 even in size and shape, and more decided and stronger in color, and I can 

 clearly see in some specimens that the spots are compound or an indistinct 

 quincunx arrangement. The Namaycush spawn only in the fall, begin- 

 ning in October. We have just taken half a million eggs. The Siscowet, 

 I am told by the fisherman and Indians, are always spawning, or that ripe 

 females are taken at all times of the year. At first I thought this an ex- 

 aggeration, but I find it so very universally reported and by reliable men 

 that I give it credence. They are very rarely found at the lower parts of 

 the lake. They begin to be more plentiful as La Pointe is reached and 

 most plentiful along the north shores and Isle Royale, but still they are a 

 rare fish, comparatively. If one barrel of Siscowet to fifteen Namaycush 

 are caught, they are said to be very abundant. They are so much prized 

 that they bring a higher price, and it is rare that we get them here unless 

 in winter time, when they are frozen and brought down fresh. A pecu- 

 liarity I have noticed is, in winter when pulled out on the ice they puff uj) 

 like a pouter pigeon full of air around the pectoral region, and when frozen 

 can be instantly distinguished at a glance. They rarely exceed thirty 

 pounds in weight and thirty-six inches in length, I am told by those ^-ery 

 familiar with the fishes of the lake. On the same authority I learn that 

 Namaycush reach ninety pounds in weight and six feet in length." 



