244 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 



cases of fish caught that weighed from twenty-five to forty 

 pounds. 



The food of our Mackinaw friend is varied. He is not 

 over-scrupulous, yet he has a leaning to nice, juicy, tender 

 young White-fish, while not despising the grosser pabulum 

 that frisks from time to time invitingly before him. He 

 is withal a good hearty eater, which is much to his credit, 

 and in our favor. It is not uncommon for a Trout to swal- 

 low a fish nearly as large as himself. 



As regards the gameness of our subject, much has been said 

 on both sides. He has been persistently vilified by some, 

 and as earnestly championed by others. I am glad to see 

 that Mr. A. N. Cheney, than whom I know of no more 

 practical expert, in all matters pertaining to this fish, classes 

 him as distinctly a game fish. I cannot do better than to 

 quote his own words: 



"There is not such a vast difference between the play on 

 the hook of the Lake Trout and the Speckled Trout. The 

 latter at the time of taking a fly will jump above the surface 

 of the water, which the former will not do in taking a bait, 

 or subsequently, and the Speckled Trout swims near the 

 surface when hooked, while the Lake Trout bores downward, 

 but there is not sufficient difference in their tactics when 

 hooked to cause the Fontinalis to stand with the elect, and 

 the Namaycush to herd with the goats. 



"Lake Trout fishing is becoming more and more each year 

 a favorite mode of angling, particularly for the invalid, the 

 indolent, and those whose heads are whitened with the frost 

 of many winters. The latter, seated in an arm-chair in the 

 stern of a broad, safe boat, can be rowed over the trolling 

 ground and all fatigue avoided, except that bravely encoun- 

 tered by the boatman for three dollars per day. Often the 

 tug of a 'laker,' (out of courtesy we call it a 'strike') arouses 

 the veteran in his easy-chair from a dream of wading moun- 

 tain brooks before his joints became so stiffened, and his 



