THE LAKE TROUT. 25^ 



less fish is flung up and out through the hole, and left to 

 freeze on the ice, while the hook is baited for fresh slaughter. 

 I recall one instance where a clerical friend of mine bought 

 some fish caught in this way, and gave them to the cook 

 with instructions to put them in a pan of water to thaw out 

 before cooking. She, poor soul, was horrified, in the course 

 of a quarter or half an hour, to find them vigorously and 

 indubitably alive. It was merely a case of suspended anima- 

 tion. But I cannot recommend this ice-box method, either 

 for comfort, or for sport. 



The Lake Trout is occasionally taken with the fly, though 

 the cases are so exceptional as almost to verify the contrary as 

 the rule. Mr. H. H. Vail, of Cincinnati, states in "Fishing 

 with the Fly," that "at several points on the Nepigon river, 

 particularly in the wild water at the foot of falls, the 

 Mackinaw Trout {Salvelinus namaycusk) was abundant, and 

 took the fly with as much vigor as any Salvelinus fontinalis. 

 We could not tell which we had struck, except from a flirt 

 of the caudal fin. The 'well-forked' caudal fin of the Macki- 

 naw Trout was frequently distinguished by our guides at a 

 great distance. They do not play toward the surface so much 

 as the Brook Trout. They were fat and lazy, two or three 

 long runs generally wearying them so that they led peacefully 

 into the net." 



Another writer, unknown to me by name, says: 



"I have just returned from a three weeks trip to Moosehead 

 Lake, Maine, and my experience this season is a repetition 

 of the past five or six years at the same place. I took with 

 the fly at least one half-dozen Lake Trout, weighing from one 

 and a half to three pounds each, and I have taken them weigh- 

 ing four pounds, but they are rarely taken above that weight 

 with fly. The time when the fly is most successful with 

 them is from 4 to 7 p. m., though I have occasionally taken 

 them in casting, even at high noon. 



"It is difficult to tell their 'swirl,' or rise, from the true 



