HABITS AND HAUNTS. 183 



intents and purposes it is^ as a table fish, for it is not found 

 within the limits of civilisation^ except in the lakes above the 

 Falls of Niagara^ which preclude the possibility of communica- 

 tion with the sea. It is, however, found in the Coppermine, the 

 Mackenzie, and other rivers which fall into the Arctic Sea, and 

 can "probably live indifferently," as Dr. Richardson observes, 

 " on fresh or salt water, like several species of Trutta and 

 Coregoni, that occasionally wander to the sea, although they are 

 not strictly anadroraous." 



It is claimed by the inhabitants of that portion of the State 

 of New York that the finest White Fish of the whole western 

 country are taken in Chatauque Lake, a small mountain tarn 

 situated some hundred feet above Lake Erie, and forming one of 

 the sources of the Alleghany River. I doubt not the superiority 

 of the Chatauque Lake White Fish to the same species taken in 

 the shallow, muddy, and turbulent waters of Lake Erie ; but I 

 entirely disbelieve in its being able to sustain comparison with 

 that of the clear, deep, and cold waters of Lake Huron, where 

 it is found of the greatest size, and in, as I understand, the 

 greatest perfection. 



" It is," says Richardson, " a rich, fat fish, yet instead of pro- 

 ducing satiety, it becomes daily more agreeable to the palate ; 

 and I know from experience, that, though deprived of bread and 

 vegetables, one may live wholly upon this fish for months, or 

 even years, without tiring." 



" In October," observes the same author, " the Attihawmeg" 

 — this is its appellation among the Cree Indians, and it were 

 most desirable that in the absence of any correct English nomen- 

 clature the aboriginal names could be adopted — " quits the 



