106 EEPORT OF ONTARIO GAME No. 52 



found in the waters inhabited by the longe, and it might obviously occur 

 that in hand trolling- for such fish a longe might be hooked, but the 

 nature of the bait used would in general preclude the hooking under such 

 circumstances of all but the smaller specimens and so hardy is the fish 

 that some, at least, of the fish thus hooked could be returned to the 

 water with a fair prospect of remaining alive. If, therefore, a regulation 

 to this effect were included in the regulation prohibiting hand trolling 

 for mascalonge, it should result in the saving of a proportion of the fish 

 thus caught. It might, perhaps, be argued that to prohibit hand trolling 

 for the longe w^ould debar a number of people from this class of fishing 

 who would otherwise enjoy it, especially those of the weaker sex, but it 

 must be conceded that it is essentially a man's and a sportsiman's fish, 

 and it would appear, therefore, that it might well be considered and 

 treated as such. 



The best season of the year for longe fishing is the autumn, for then 

 the fish is hard and in prime condition and its fighting qualities at their 

 very best. At this period of the year also its flesh is firm, flaky and of 

 excellent flavour, whereas in the summer months it is apt to taste rather 

 weedy. 



The Lakp: Trout. 



The lake trout, which is variously known also as the salmon trout, 

 grey trout, togue or tuladi, is the largest representative of the coarse 

 charrs existing in fresh waters, attaining a length of several feet and a 

 weight up to 60 lbs. and more, though it is infrequently at the present 

 time that fish over thirty pounds in weight are secured in this Province. 

 The coloration is extremely variable, being sometimes grayish, some- 

 times pale, and sometimes almost black, but in all cases with rounded 

 pale spots which are often tinged with red, while on the back and the 

 top of the head there are fine vermiculations resembling those of the 

 brook trout. This variety in colouring has given rise to the belief that 

 there are several distinct species of this fish, but it would appear to be 

 doubtful whether there are more than at most two scientifically dis- 

 tinguishable species. The local peculiarities in the markings, therefore, 

 which are to be observed in the fish of certain lakes may perhaps be 

 attributed to the characteristics of the particular waters. 



The lake trout is to be found throughout the great lakes and in 

 most of the larger and many of the simaller inland lakes of the Province. 

 It is a highly predaceous and voracious fish, and will devour almost any- 

 thing, its principal food consisting of herrings, young whitefish and 

 other soft-finned fishes. In the general it frequents the deeper waters, 

 but is to be captured in waters of almost any depth, being taken usually 

 near the bottom. The spawning season varies greatly according to the 

 locality, commencing in the northern waters early in October and in 

 more southerly regions not until November. The close season for this 



