THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 283 



The small lakes within the islands, as well as the mainland, are well 

 stocked with fish, of which perch, suckers, and bass, are the most 

 abundant. 



In lake Michigan, among and around the islands, are sturgeon, pike, 

 pickerel, siskowit, trout, whitefish, herring, suckers, perch, ling or 

 lawyers. 



Sturgeon, {Aupenscr.) — I have been able to learn ver}- little of the 

 habits of the sturgeon. While the shoal channels among the islands are 

 frozen, the tribe of Indians residing on Garden Island depend much 

 upon them for subsistence. They are usually taken with spears, in 

 from one to four fathoms water. 



The quality of the flesh is very fine. Properly cooked, it can scarcely 

 be distinguished from veal cutlet. They also make from them conside- 

 rable quantities of lamp-oil, quite superior to that furnished by contract- 

 ors for the light-houses. 



The mode of taking them is as follows : The fishermen go onto the 

 ice at the favorite resorts of the sturgeon, and cut holes through the ice 

 about one foot in diameter. By the side of the hole they put down a 

 small quantity of hemlock or cedar brush, (either of which is an anti- 

 dote to frost.) 



On the brush the fisherman lies down, with his head over the hole, 

 covering himself entirely with his blanket, so as to keep out all light, 

 except what reflects up from the water. He is provided with a spear 

 of great strength, usually consisting of but one tine, with three or four 

 barbs on one side. The spear-handle is thirty or forty feet long, and of 

 heavy wood, so that it \\'\\\ penetrate the water with a slight effort. 

 The spear is not made fast to the handle, but slightly pressed into a 

 mitre in the end of it; so that the first motion of the fish will take the 

 spear out of the handle. But the spear is connected to the handle b}' 

 a strong^ cord several fathoms in leuQlh. The reason for this is, that the 

 struggles of the fisli would break a very strong sjjear handle if the 

 spear was fastened. But, by this arrangement, the fish spends his 

 strength in pulling upon the cord, without being able to get loose. 



It is supposed the fish congregate around the holes m the ice to 

 breathe the fresh air. The fisherman w'atches their coming, and seiz- 

 ing the first favorable opportunity, seldom fails of taking one if within 

 twenty or thirty feet. The sturgeon are exceedingly shy. The}^ are 

 not sought in the summer, and ver}^ seldom taken in seeking other fish. 



I have never learned the weight of sturgeon in this region. They 

 are usually from four to seven feet long — and arc of value simply as 

 winter subsistence for the Indians. 



Pike and Pickerel. — I can communicate nothing reliable concerning 

 pike and pickerel. They are taken in small quantities for market ; but 

 none of the fishermen have been able to give me any information as to 

 their habits. It is even disputed among fishermen whether they are 

 not one and the same variety offish, though, I think, without any good 

 reason. 



Siskowit, {Salmo siskowit.) — Siskowit abound principally in Lake 

 Superior, where the best quality are taken. But the}^ are taken in 

 limited quantities in Lake Michigan. Fishermen generally suppose 

 they are a mule between trout and white-fish, and their appearance 



