THE CISCO OF GENEVA LAKE. 361 



THE CISCO OF GENEVA LAKE, WISCONSIN. 



"A thing of beauty 

 Is a joy forever." 



A specialty for ten days only ! 



In a beautiful sheet of water, called Geneva Lake, situ- 

 ate! on the Northwestern Railway, seventy miles from Chi- 

 ;iud forty-five miles from Milwaukee, swims this charm- 

 iug little game-fish a specialty for ten days only ! Appear- 

 ing in June, when the May-fly first begins to glide o'er the 

 surface of the lake, and disappearing like a shadow at the 

 exodus of the fly, it is sought after for ten days with great 

 pleasure and much excitement, and is gone. 



When it is known that the cisco has come, every man, 

 woman, and child that can swing a line in the neighborhood, 

 besides sportsmen from Chicago, Milwaukee, and towns in 

 the vicinity that can spare the time, hastens to the pure and 

 placid sheet of water, prepared for its capture. This won- 

 derful silver-sided dainty of the lake is a' member of the uni- 

 versal herring family, averages about eight inches in length, 

 and seldom weighs over three-quarters of a pound. When 

 scaled for the pan, its flesh is quite transparent. Its meat 

 is clear white, and said to be of a flavor unequalled by any 

 other fish. 



" Beautiful fish of Geneva Lake, 

 Strange Cisco by name, what pleasure we take 

 In thy capture by fly, or even with bait, 

 Chirm ing, indeed, when lured to thy fate ! 

 Bright gem of the deep, where'er Ihoa art known, 

 Thou shinest in resplendent beauty alone ; 

 Pearl of the water, so rich and so rare 

 No fish in the world can with thee compare." 



