FISHES OF THE WEST. 33 1 



Fishermen claim the principal food of the lake trout to be 

 whitefish, and assert that they are often caught in their nets while 

 robbing them of these fish ; however, Milnersays in every instance 

 that came under his observation, the supposed whitefish proved to 

 be ciscoes, yet he does not doubt the fact of their preying upon 

 whitefish to some extent. 



SiscowET, or SiSKOVviTZ. — Salmo siscoivet. Agassiz. 



Specific characteristics. — Head large, nearly one-fourth total 

 length. Snout obtuse and rounded. Two rows of teeth on the 

 tongue. Depth of body at first dorsal equal to one-fifth total 

 length. Scales small, larger on lower region of the body. Color, 

 Resembles somewhat the salmo namayettsk from which it may be 

 recognized by its different opercular apparatus. Habitat, Lake 

 Superior. 



The Siscovvet spawns in August and September, and alwaj's in 

 deep water ; in fact, the fish is never taken in much less than forty 

 fathoms. The fattest of all known fish, it has no unpleasant or 

 oily odor, and for the table is much valued. This fish has been 

 extensively maligned as unfit for eating in a fresh state ; that it 

 was insufferably oily and rank, though all united in its praise when 

 salted. With the concurrence of such authority as Agassiz, we 

 have no hesitancy in pronouncing it food fit for an emperor in 

 either state. There is, however, a species of white meated trout 

 of very indifferent quality, so closely resembling the siscowet, that 

 it is largely sold under that name, by which means the nobler fish 

 is unden^alued, except where well known. This is known to the 

 Indians as the " bear trout," and we presume is the fish that fur- 

 nished ground for criticism to the detractors of the siscowet. The 

 siscowet weigh from five to twenty pounds. It is generally taken 

 in gill nets, but the probability is that it may also be taken by troll- 

 ing, using as bait the cottoid mentioned by Milner as forming the 

 principal part of its food. 



Common Speckled Trout. — Salmo fontinalis. Mitch. 



Taken in Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota, as well as in 

 the streams and rivers that empty into Lake Superior. In the 

 Nepigon River they average three or four pounds each, and an 



