288 The Trout s of America 



names, "tyrant of the lake," "silver lunge," and 

 " black salmon " prevail, and last, not least, the 

 euphonious title of "masamacush" represents the 

 Indian idea of the proper name for the Great 

 Lake trout. 



As a compensation for this mass of popular 

 and confusing names, this fish is without doubt 

 the most easy of recognition, for it stands alone 

 as a charr in its characteristic structure, of which 

 the bone on the roof of the mouth is the most 

 striking; it is a raised crest armed with teeth, 

 lying behind the vomer and free from its shaft, 

 and a finger placed in the mouth of the fish will 

 at once reveal this crest, also the presence on the 

 base of the tongue of a strong band of teeth, 

 coarse and sharp like a wool card. 



The head of the lake trout is very long, the 

 upper part somewhat flattened, the mouth is 

 large; tail well forked and the adipose or fatty 

 fin is comparatively small. The coloration 

 varies greatly ; sometimes it is a dark gray, then 

 pale, and occasionally specimens are taken that 

 are nearly black ; this coloration is frequently 

 seen when lake trout are confined in the pens of 

 fish culturists. Over the entire body will be 

 found pale spots, which are sometimes tinged 



