30 NOTES ON THE NORTHWEST. 



world, for everywhere life manifests itself in some form or 

 other. It is, indeed, remarkable, that the more we advance 

 to the nortli (to within a certain extent, nevertheless), the 

 more the mosquito appears to be abundant, as every voyageur 

 knows by sad experience. 



" The lakes to which I have just alluded are distributed in 

 separate groups, or are arranged in prolonged chains along 

 the rivers, and not unfrequently attached to each other by 

 gentle rapids. It has seemed to me that they diminish in 

 extent on both sides of the Missisippi, as we proceed south- 

 wardly, as far as 43° of north latitude ; and this observation 

 extends to the Arctic Region, commencing at Bear's Lake, or 

 Slave Lake, Winnipeg Lake, &c. It may be further remarked, 

 that the basins of these lakes have a sufficient depth to leave 

 no doubt that they will remain characteristic features of the 

 country for a long time to come. Several species of fish 

 abound in them. The white fish {corregonus alhus) is found 

 in all the deep lakes west of the Missisippi ; and, indeed, 

 from Lake Erie to the Polar Sea. That which is taken in 

 Leech Lake, is said, by amateurs, to be more highly flavored 

 than even that of Lake Superior, and weighs from three to 

 ten pounds. There is another species of this white fish, 

 called, by the Indians, tuliby, or ottunihy (the corregonus 

 artedi), wdiich resembles it, but is much less esteemed. 

 Both species furnish a wholesome and palatable food. 

 Among the other species of fish that inhabit these waters, are 

 the mashkinonge, or mashkilonge ; the pike, or jack-fish ; the 

 pickerel, or gilt carp ; the sucker, or true carp ; the perch ; 

 a species of trout, called, by the Chippeways, namogus, &c., 

 &c. These lakes, which are somewhat deep, swarm with 

 leeches ; and, among the amphibious reptiles, there are 

 several species of terrapin and turtle, of which Mr. Say has 



