The Alaska Herring 



praises have been sung by William C. Harris, the veteran editor of 

 The American Angler, and that is praise from Sir Hubert himself. 



In Geneva Lake, Wisconsin, this fish is an abundant species, 

 and is regarded by local anglers and others who have had ex- 

 perience with it as one of the most attractive and interesting fishes 

 to be taken with rod and line; and the fact that it can be taken 

 only for a few days each year adds zest to sport already fascinat- 

 ing. Only during the last days of May or the early ones of 

 June, when the Mayfly is on the wing, is the cisco seen. 

 Then the anglers go in boats out on the lake where the water 

 is 50 to loo feet deep and where experience has shown the 

 cisco may be found. Until casting begins not a fish can be seen, 

 nor the slightest ripple upon the water; but no sooner have a few 

 impaled ephemeras dropped upon the surface than the ciscoes begin 

 to appear. They can be seen coming up from the depths, "their 

 pearly sides burnished by the gleam and glint of the afternoon 

 sun." In a moment the water all about the many boats is a- 

 ripple with eager fish, every hook has been taken, and the happy 

 anglers are busy removing the catch and dropping it into their 

 boats. The Mayfly is the lure in almost exclusive use, though 

 Mr. Harris succeeded in taking a few fish with an artificial fly. 

 The great tenderness of the mouth of the cisco does not permit 

 the angler to play his fish except at the almost certain risk of 

 losing it. So far as we have been able to learn this species has 

 not attracted the attention of anglers elsewhere. 



In the small Indiana lakes in which it is found it comes 

 into the inlets or other shallow water for spawning purposes 

 usually between the middle of November and Christmas. The 

 cisco reaches a length of 14 inches and is regarded as a delicious 

 food-fish. 



This fish does not differ greatly from the lake herring. 

 The head seems to be longer, the eye smaller and the mandible 

 and the maxillary a trifle shorter. The fish is rather smaller 

 than, the lake herring. The colour is not especially different. 



Alaska Herring- 



Argyrosomus alascanus Scofield 



This herring is known only from 3 specimens, I from salt 

 water at Point Hope, Alaska, and 2 others from freshwater at 

 Grantley Harbour, near Bering Straits. 



135 



