114 ' AMERICAN FISHES. 



the Mackinaw Salmon or Namaycush; it is in all respects a clumsier 

 and coarser fish. Its flesh is of the same nature, though much 

 richer ; and when salted, it commands nearly double the price of the 

 Namaycush. 



Its habits and haunts are almost identical with those of the other 

 species, like which it is not migratory or anadromous, never entering 

 the rivers either for the purpose of spawning or in pursuit of food ; 

 although it approaches the shores, and visits the gravelly shallows of 

 the lakes in autumn, in order to deposit its ova. 



It is taken by the French inhabitants and by the Indian hunters, 

 with the torch and spear, occasionally with the sean, and also with the 

 long line in deep water. It is said to strike readily at a piece of glit- 

 tering tin, or mother-of-pearl, made to revolve and glance quickly 

 through the water.* 



There is no doubt but that with good spinning tackle, baited with 

 minnow, shiners, or the parr of the Brook Trout, which would proba- 

 bly prove the most killing of the three, or with the deadly spoon, the 

 Siskawitz might be angled for with great success, and would afford 

 good sport, as it is a strong and powerful fish, growing to twenty-five 

 pounds or upwards, although its usual weight does not exceed fifteen 

 or sixteen pounds. 



Neither this fish, however, nor the Namaycush, nor, so far as I 

 know, any other of the non-migratory Lake Trout, strikes with the 

 same fierceness and avidity, springing out of the water to take the bait, 

 and leaping far and frequently above the surface when hooked, as the 

 Sea Salmon, the Salmon Trout, or any of the anadromous species of 

 this highly interesting family. The motion of the great lakers is for 

 the most part confined to a heavy lumbering rush in pursuit of the 

 bait, and to a strong dead pull when endeavoring to escape after being 

 struck. They will bore down desperately at first into the deep water, 

 but do not fight with the swift energy or resort to the cunning arti- 



NoTE to Revised Edition. — From personal observation, since writing the above, 

 I am satisfied that these large Lake Tront cannot be angled for with success, ex- 

 cept in very deep water, either with a drop- line, or by trolling from a boat with a 

 plummet, and a cod-hook baited with any kind of flesh, fish, or fowl. The former 

 is the preferable mode. The Indians kill them with the spear, or with baits through 

 Uie ice, in immense numbers. Fresh, then' flesh is coarse, oily, rank and vapid, 

 hut when pickled or smoked, they are very palatable. 



