FISHES OF THE WEST. 333 



on the spawn, but this is contrary to nature and undoubtedly a 

 slander. The most careful of observers assure me that the males 

 who linger on the beds are employed in covering- the spawn. 



" Whitefish of Lake Erie ascend the Detroit River and pass 

 through the lake into the River St. Clair for the purpose of spawn- 

 ing, but seldom, if ever, go higher than Mooretown — eight miles 

 from the outlet of Lake Huron. Again, Lake Huron fish ascend 

 the Ste. Marie River for the same purpose ; but it is a well estab- 

 lished fact that none descend these rivers from the waters above 

 for a like purpose. Lake Huron whitefish rarely enter the River 

 St. Clair, except after a heavy and continued northeast storm, 

 then they are driven into the river in large schools. 



" The average whitefish is of two or three pounds weight ; a 

 large one six or seven ; rare specimens are caught, however, of 

 much greater weight, sometimes turning the scales at twenty 

 pounds. Those of Lake Superior and the Straits are larger, fatter 

 and finer in flavor than those of the lower lakes. In the rapids of 

 the Sault Ste. Marie they are taken in large quantities by the Chip- 

 pewa Indians in dip nets and are of very superior flavor. The 

 fish of Lake Huron and Upper Lake Michigan are very fair, but 

 those of Lake Erie are decidedly inferior, which is probably due to 

 the difference in temperature of these waters. Few travellers ever 

 taste whitefish in perfection except they have visited the northern 

 resorts. As eaten upon the hotel tables of Buffalo, Chicago, and 

 even Detroit, it is comparatively a tasteless fish ; as a meal for an 

 epicure it must be had fresh from the icy waters at the Straits or 

 of Lake Superior, and cooked as soon as may be after it is caught. 

 Then, to our thinking, the whitefish is one of the most toothsome 

 fishes that swim, superior even to the salmon or brook trout. 



" Formerly the capture of M'hitefish was conducted by means of 

 seines, but the wholesale destruction on the spawning beds has 

 caused gill and pound net to supersede them. The food of this 

 fish was long a matter of conjecture, but is nowbeheved to consist 

 mainly of the mmute crustaceans and moUusks that inhabit these 

 lakes. This is rendered probable from the fact that the mouth is 

 constructed for nibbling along the bottom, being directed nearly 

 downward. The frequent failure to find food in the stomach of 

 the whitefish, is doubtless due to their capture in pound nets. 



