292 FISHING IN AMERICAN WATERS. 



THE LAKE HERRING. Clupea harengus. 



cured every possible way with salt and smoke, from the deli- 

 cate bloater to the shriveled, smoky-brown substance of a 

 smoked herring-box. Nevertheless, it has been truly stated 

 that " the ancients placed among their gods many a worse 

 creature than a red herring." It is a great fish of commerce, 

 and one of the indispensables to the poor in many parts of the 

 world. Thus far, although the lakes of the United States 

 swarm with a fresh-water herring which is not inferior to the 

 best British, yet it has hitherto claimed little attention as a 

 fish for exportation ; but the demand for it is becoming an- 

 nually greater, and the fishermen of the Western lakes are 

 now beginning to* study the best net and management for 

 its capture. The drift-nets will probably be found the best, 

 and the lake herrings which are more delicate than those of 

 salt water will soon become an important article of com- 

 merce. 



THE CISCO OR CISCOQUETTE. 



The cisco is a small white fish similar to the lake herring, 

 but differing from it by the addition of a second filmy dorsal, 

 and in its meat being more delicate, and, when scaled, trans- 

 lucent as a smelt. It usually measures from six to nine 

 inches in length, sometimes twelve inches, but rarely longer. 

 The scales are white as polished silver except on the back, 

 which is greenish-gray like the caplin. 



The cisco is known in some places, eminently by fishermen 

 and fish-dealers along the great lakes, as the ciscoquette, and 

 as just beginning to be regarded as a commercial fish, great 

 quantities being taken with the whitefish by the fishermen of 



