126 AMERICAN GAME. 



smelt and shad-roe, in the spring, he disappears from 

 among us for a time, having run up nearly to the head- 

 waters of his breeding streams, where he may deposit 

 his ova in the clear, cold aerated waters, running limpid 

 over yellow sands and bright pebbles, which are the best 

 suited to the reproduction of his species. 



Soon after he has performed this duty, he returns, far 

 less reduced, I know not wherefore, by the act of spawn- 

 ing, than other anadromous fishes ; and, thereafter, 

 during the hot months of midsummer, and the earlier 

 part of autumn, he is to be found in the estuaries, and 

 the silver-flashing surges of our outer beaches, where he 

 is taken in great abundance by the amphibious popula- 

 tion of those regions, with the squid and hand line. 



Later in the autumn, he again rushes up the rivers, 

 partly in pursuit of his prey, and partly, it is supposed, 

 from dislike to the tumultuous seas, produced by the 

 winter storms ; since it cannot be, as was once imagined, 

 in avoidance of cold that he winters in fresh water, for 

 it is ascertained that salt water maintains the highest 

 temperature. In the rivers, however, it is, or rather in 

 the lagoons and shallow bays at their mouth, that he 

 passes the cold season, lying in a half torpid state on the 

 mud at the bottom ; nor even here is he safe, at least in 

 northern regions, for Mr. jPerley states that he is easily 

 distinguished in the shallow waters, through the clear, 

 newly-formed ice, which is speedily cut through, and 

 friend Labrax fished up in scoop-nets by the Micmacsand 

 Milicetes, no slight addition to their frugal winter fare. 



