MACKINAW TROUT. 895- 



The Trout of the Great Lakes is one of three most numerous fishes 

 (Trout, White-fish, Lake Herring), and except the Sturgeon it attains 

 the greatest weight of any of the lake fishes. It is captured almost ex- 

 clusively by the gill-nets, though the pound-nets in some portions of the 

 lakes take them during the spawning season, and in the winter a 

 great many are caught in the bays, through holes cut in the ice. 



As compared with the White-fish, their merits as a fresh fish are rela- 

 tive to taste, though most people prefer the latter. Salted Trout are in- 

 ferior to salted White fish, and bring a lower price in the market. 



Their migrations, so far as known, are confined to the spawning season. 

 They do not ascend the rivers, and although they occur in inland lakes 

 connected with the main lake by rapids, there seems to be no knowledge 

 of their ever having been seen or taken in the outlets. At other times 

 than the spawning period, they remain chiefly in deep water, a depth of 

 thirty fathoms being the most favorable ground for their capture. In 

 the shallow waters of Lake Erie, in the western part of the lake, they 

 are scarcely found at all, though numerous in the deeper portion, east of 

 the city of Cleveland. 



The Lake Trout is a ravenous feeder, The fishermen say of him that 

 " he always bites best when he ife fullest." ' 



In Lake Michigan the food of the White-fish was ascertained to be 

 chiefly the Cisco {Coregonushoyi.). The prevailing notion that they feed 

 largely on White fish has not been confirmed by observations. During 

 most of the year they live in deeper water than that-in which the young 

 White-fish are found. 



Their exceeding voracity induces them to fill their maws with singular 

 articles. When steamers pass, the refuse from the table is eagerly seized 

 by the Trout. I have taken from the stomach a raw peeled potato and 

 a piece of sliced liver, and it is not unusual to find pieces of corn cobs in 

 the green season, and in one instance I heard of a piece of ham bone. 



They are readily taken with a hook, baited with pieces of fish. They 

 are a'sluggish fish to pull in, taking hold of the bait with a tug at the 

 line, and then allowing themselves to be pulled to the surface, with no 

 more vibration in the line than if a heavy sinker was the weight at the 

 end. 



The spawning season is toward the last of October, about a month 

 earlier than that of the White-fish. The localities selected for spawning 

 are usually rock bottoms in seven to ninety feet of depth. The decrease 

 in numbers of the Lake Trout is not as apparent as in the White-fish. 

 The pound-nets have not made the extensive inroads upon their num- 



