FISHES OF THE WEST. 32/ 



Of the habits of this fish no man, as far as I know, speaketh. I 

 only know that he spawns in April, is known here from April until 

 September, when he disappears. Where he goes I know not, have 

 never seen, or heard of one being seen or taken in the winter. In 

 some seasons they seem to be quite plenty, and at others but very 

 few are seen. On the whole I have always regarded it as a rare 

 fish. They are vigorous biters, and take freely the minnow or fly, 

 and are one of the smartest of fishes. They will come up, taste 

 of a fly, let go and be gone before the angler has time to strike. 

 Therefore to be a " Mooneye " fly-fisher, one must be very sharp 

 and not read a book while casting, as I once knew a man to do." 

 The doctor speaks of this fish as being a most excellent food 

 fish, and quite devoid of troublesome bones. Its avidity for the 

 fly and minnow is a peculiarity lacking in the varieties above 

 named. There is no doubt, however, that its specific characteris- 

 tics are common to both. 



Lake Herring. — Argyrosomus clupei/ortnis. Agassiz. 



This fish is described elsewhere under the head of Northern 

 Inland Fishes. It is found in all the western lakes, and is often 

 taken with hook, or fly or minnow in rivers emptying into the 

 lakes. In Lake Pepin is a variety found (as elsewhere,) in vast 

 numbers. It is there called the skip jack, but it is a different fish 

 from the mooneye, which is also called the skip jack. Dr. Estes 

 thinks it is a different fish from the true lake herring, {^A. chipei- 

 forinis and A. harettgus.) It is dark blue on the back and white 

 beneath, much resembling a shad. They are considered worth- 

 less as a food fish, though biting so readily at the hook as to cause 

 much annoyance to the angler. They spawn in May, and are 

 taken only from the first of May until September. 



Gizzard Shad. — Dorosonta cepedianum. Gill. 



Oliver Gibbs jr. was the first to discover this singular fish in 

 Lake Pepin, and published the description in a Rochester paper. 

 It resembles the mooneye in general appearance, but is shorter, 

 thicker and weighs from one to three pounds ; is generally eaten, 

 having a very good flavor, but quite bony. It is a poor biter and 

 but few are taken — probably not abundant. Dr. Estes says it 

 has as veritable a gizzard as the hen. 



