CHAPTER IV. 



THE MACKINAW TROUT, OR MACKINAW SALMOK 



Salmo Jlmethystiis. MITCHILL. 



THIS appears to be a different species from that known aa 

 the common Lake Trout, Salmo Confinis, Dekay. It is 

 described in the New York Fauna as follows : 



" Color. Dark or dusky grey above ; chin, throat, and belly 

 light ash grey or cream color ; the back and sides sprinkled 

 with numerous irregular lighter grey or brown, or soiled white 

 spots, which do not, however, as in the preceding species (Lake 

 Trout), rise upon the fins ; ventrals and pectorals slightly yel- 

 lowish ; irides yellow ; the teeth, gums, and roof of the mouth 

 with a bright purple tinge ; length, two to five feet." 



" This magnificent trout, which is the largest hitherto known 

 of Salmonidae, exists in all the great lakes lying between the 

 United States and the Arctic Ocean, is exceedingly voracious, 

 feeding upon every fish within its reach, and, according to Dr. 

 Mitchill, is sometimes of the weight of 120 pounds. It is a 

 favorite article of food with the Canadian voyageurs, who fre- 

 quently eat it raw. Its flesh is reddish. Like the Salmo Con- 

 finis, it resorts habitually to the deepest parts of the lake, and 

 only conies near the shores in October to spawn, when the 

 natives spear it by torchlight. Lake Huron appears to be ite 

 most southerly range in any considerable number, although a 

 few are taken occasionally in Lake Erie, along the shores of 

 Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York." This kind is much supe- 

 rior to the common lake trout (with which it is often con- 

 founded), as an article of food ; and by good judges of good 

 things is considered equal in flavor to any fish that swims. 



