132 MACKINAW SALMON. 



pellation whichis usually spelled namaycush, although 

 it is pronounced namaegoose, and has the accent 

 strongly on the second syllable, and is never by them 

 confounded with any other variety of lake trout. 

 The fish of Lake Superior are of stronger colors ; are 

 darker on the back ; have redder flesh, and are uni- 

 versally preferred gastronomically to those of other 

 localities. 



In Spring and early Summer, they appear to leave 

 the deep water, and seeking the rocky shallows, feed 

 voraciously upon the numerous small fry furnished 

 in abundance by our western lakes. Throughout 

 May, June, July, and August, they can be captured 

 in abundance with the trolling spoon, trailed after 

 a boat propelled by oars or a gentle breeze, but are 

 rarely taken of over twelve pounds weight. At such 

 times they are excellent eating; their flesh being 

 rich, firm, and closely approaching in color that of 

 their congener, the famous Salmo Solar, and they 

 are delicious simply boiled or made into the basis 

 of a chowder. 



Unfortunately, although they bite Toraciously, 

 they give no satisfactory play, allowing themselves 

 to be drawn in without resistance, and there is no 

 fish approaching them in size which is so largely de- 

 void of game qualities. At times they seem even to 

 swim gently forward as though they preferred com- 

 ing towards the boat, till the fisherman is uncertain 

 whether they are still on ; and although at the last 

 moment they make a few flounces, their apparent 

 weakness for a fish so powerfully formed, is astonish. 



