128 AMERICAN FISHES. * 



son, " in the neighborhood of an open rapid by which the waters of 

 Winter lake were discharged into a river that remained frozen up 

 until June. At that time their stomachs were filled with the larvae 

 of insects. During the summer this fish is supposed to retire to the 

 depths of the lakes, but it reappears in smaller numbers in the 

 autumn, and is occasionally taken in the winter in nets, but seldom 

 by the hook, except in the spring. The spawning season is in April 

 or May, judging from the great development the spawn then acquires, 

 though the spawning beds are unknown to us. The Masamacush 

 attains a weight of eight pounds, but begins to spawn befcTre it weighs 

 more than two or three." 



Dr. Richardson does not state whether this fish will take the fly or 

 not, but as it is not the general habit of the non-migra,tory Trout of 

 the American lakes, or of the British Charr, to do so, it may, I think, 

 be presumed that the Masamacush, where he exists in lakes, is to be 

 taken by trolling in deep water with a small Trout or other fish upon 

 a heavily-weighted hook, with spinning tackle. 



It is not distinctly stated, and probably is not ascertained, whether 

 this is. an anadromous or non-migratory fish. The Charrs, for the 

 most part, are found only in the deepest parts of the lakes which they 

 inhabit, and rarely enter the streams which feed or drain these but 

 for the purpose of spawning, when they seek out the clearest and 

 swiftest rivers running on gravel bottoms. 



The fact, however, that the Masamacush is taken in the Mingan 

 river, a powerful body of water having direct communication with the 

 sea, would go far to prove that he is an anadromous fish there, at 

 least, visiting the sea, and returning to spawn ; although it is very 

 probable that like many of this family, and like Ms own congener, 

 the Ahgmalook, he can exist indifferently in fresh or salt-water. 



Like all the Charrs, he is red-fleshed, and of delicious flavor. And 

 from these facts, were it not that the Masamacush is said not to 

 exceed eight pounds in weight, I should be vastly inclined to suspect 

 his identity with the red-fleshed and bright-colored lake-fish, which 

 is occasionally taken in the Hamilton County waters, as mentioned by 



Note to Second Edition. — I believe at present, from my observation in the 

 Northern Lakes, that it is of no use to attempt to take any of the Great Lake Trout 

 on Claire with the fly ; and th.it they will rarely hook even at a trolled bait. Heavy 

 lead and a long drcp-ime in sixty to one hundred feet water will alone fetch them 



