126 AMERICAN GAMI. 
smelt and shad-roe, in the spring, he disappears from 
among us for a time, having run up nearly to the head- 
waters of his breeding streams, where he may deposit 
his ova in the clear, cold aérated waters, running limpid 
over yellow sands and bright pebbles, which are the best 
suited to the reproduction of his species. 
Soon after he has performed this duty, he returns, far 
less reduced, I know not wherefore, by the act of spawn- 
ing, than other anadromous fishes; and, thereafter, 
during the hot months of midsummer, and the earlier 
part of autumn, he is to be found in the estuaries, and 
the silver-flashing surges of our outer beaches, where he 
is taken in great abundance by the amphibious popula- 
tion of those regions, with the squid and hand line. 
Later in the autumn, he again rushes up the rivers, 
partly in pursuit of his prey, and partly, it is supposed, 
from dislike to the tumultuous seas, produced by the 
winter storms ; since it cannot be, as was once imagined, 
in avoidance of cold that he winters in fresh water, for 
it is ascertained that salt water maintains the highest 
temperature. In the rivers, however, it is, or rather in. 
the lagoons and shallow bays at their mouth, that he 
passes the cold season, lying in a half torpid state on the 
mud at the bottom; nor even here is he safe, at least in 
northern regions, for Mr. Perley states that he is easily 
distinguished in the shallow waters, through the clear, 
newly-tormed ice, which is speedily cut through, and 
friend Labrax fished up in scoop-nets by the Micmacs and 
Milicetes, no slight addition to their frugal winter fare. 
