MACKINAW SALMON. 131 



MACKINAW SALMON. 



Namaycush Salmo Amethystus. 



OF all the varieties of Salmonidce that perma- 

 nently inhabit the fresh water, this fish, although 

 utterly destitute of game qualities, is alone entitled, 

 on account of his great size and excellence upon the 

 table, to the honored name of Salmon, is found 

 throughout the northern lakes, being prevented by 

 the impassable barrier of Niagara Falls from descend- 

 ing to the sea, occasionally visits Lake Erie, but 

 attains his finest condition around the cold, clear 

 depths of Lakes Huron a#d Superior. He is named 

 after one of his favorite localities, and reaches the 

 immense weight of nearly or quite one hundred 

 pounds, and is the grandest prize of the inland 

 waters of our northern continent. 



In color, the Mackinaw Salmon differs, as does the 

 brook trout, according to the peculiarities of his 

 habitat, whether rocky or muddy shoals, or deep 

 open water ; and to such a degree that, according to 

 Rrofessor Agassiz, he is known to the Canadian 

 Voyageurs under different names, and individual 

 specimens are frequently considered half-breeds or 

 a cross between this species and the Siskawitz. 

 Among the aborigines he is distinguished by the ap- 



