SWEBFY ON THE SISCOWET. 497 



cush' is dry and lacks delicacy, and cannot be even fried without pork- fat or lard. Some years 

 ago I si)ent a winter at the head of Lake Superior, aiM our diet most of the time was fish and pota- 

 toes; only twice daring the winter did we have fresh beef. At almost every meal and every day 

 we had fish in some of its numberless styles of preparation, and you may be sure I became quite 

 familiar not only with the taste, but the appearance of both Namaycush and Siscowet. As an 

 edible [fish] the two are no nearer alike than fresh mackerel and sucker, but, of course, that would 

 not be conclusive if there were no other differences. 



"The amateur is likely to confound the Namaycush with the Siscowet, but when the differences 

 are once pointed out, no confusion of the two again arises. The fishermen recognize them before 

 taken from the water when hauling in the nets; even the Indian children know them at a glance. 

 The head of the Siscowet is shorter and broader in proportion, eyes nearer the end of nose and are 

 wider apart; the whole osseous structure of the head lighter, more delicate and flexible, particularly 

 the submaxillaries, which in the Namaycush are heavy, rigid, and rounded. I intended to send you 

 some Naraaycush heads for comparison, but all of those procurable have had tongues and gills 

 removed, so that the heads are in consequence unnaturally compressed and their characteristic 

 appearance altered. The only variation from Agassiz's description that I find is in the lingual 

 teeth; sometimes there is a furrow or a groove in the tongue, and between the 'pair of lateral 

 rows' a V-shaped row is found, but this is so inconstant in occurrence as to be the exception. The 

 coloring varies in different specimens considerably, according to locality from whence taken. The 

 spots or markings are unlike those of the K'amaycush, more even in size and shape, and more 

 decided and stronger in color, and I can clearly see in some specimens that the spots are compound or 

 an indistinct quincunx arrangement. The Namaycush spawn only in the fall, beginning in October. 

 We have just taken half a million eggs. The Siscowet, I am told by the fishermen and Indians, 

 are always spawning, or that ripe females are taken at all times of the year. At first I thought this 

 an exaggeration, but I find it so very universally reported and by reliable men that I give it 

 credence. They are very rarely found at the lower parts of the lake. They begin to be more 

 plentiful as La Pointe is reached and most plentiful along the north shores and Isle Royale, but 

 still they are a rare fish, comparatively. If one barrel of Siscowet to fifteen Namaycush are caught, 

 they are said to be very abundant. They are so much prized that they bring a higher price, and 

 it is rare that we get them here unless in winter time, when they are frozen and brought down 

 fresh. A peculiarity I have noticed is, in winter when pulled out on the ice they puff up like a. 

 pouter pigeon full of air around the pectoral region, and when frozen can be instantly distinguished 

 at a glance. They rarely exceed thirty pounds in weight and thirty-six inches in length, I am told 

 by those very familiar with the fishes of the lake. On the same authority I learn that Namaycnsh 

 reach ninety pounds' weight and six feet in length sometimes. I have just had a talk with a man 

 from the lake, and he says this season they are catching about five Siscowet to the one hundred 

 Namaycush only. Another fact: Siscowet are never caught alone, but always among Nam aycnsh; 

 but sometimes no Siscowet are seen or caught for weeks, and then they appear and disappear 

 without disturbing the movements of Namaycush. You will find it impossible to keep Siscowet in 

 alcohol, but I think the camphor water and glycerine will do it. I have succeeded with salmon 

 thus, although in alcohol they fall to pieces as if they had been boiled." 



164. THE SPECKLED TROUT— SALVELINUS FONTINALIS. 



The following chapter is a reprint of Mr. Goode's essay upon the Speckled Trout, in Scribner's 

 " Game Fishes of the United States " : r 



The Speckled Trout must have been discovered at a very early day by the first settlers of 

 32 P 



