MACKINAW SALMON. 131 



MACKINAW SALMON. 



Namaycush Salmo Amethystus. 



OF all the varieties of Salmonidce that perma- 

 nently inhabit the fresh water, this fish, although 

 somewhat destitute of game qualities, is alone en- 

 titled, on account of his great size and excellence up- 

 on the table, to the honored name of Salmon, is 

 found throughout the northern lakes,being prevent- 

 ed by the impassable barrier of Niagara Falls from 

 descending to the sea, occasionally visits Lake Erie, 

 but attains his finest condition around the cold, clear 

 depths of Lakes Huron and Superior. He is named 

 after one of his favorite localities, and reaches the 

 immense weight of nearly or quite one hundred 

 pounds, and is the grandest prize of the inland 

 waters of our northern continent. 



In color, the Mackinaw Salmon differs, as does the 

 brook trout, according to the peculiarities of his 

 habitat, whether rocky or muddy shoals, or deep 

 open water ; and to such a degree that, according to 

 Professor Agassiz, he is known to the Canadian 

 Voyageurs under different names, and individual 

 specimens are frequently considered half-breeds or 

 a cross between this species and the Siskawitz. 

 Among th?, aborigines he is distinguished by the ap- 



