252 Field and Forest Rambles. 



the whole body covered with a white mucous secretion ; " 

 moreover, that "when disturbed at the spawning season, it will 

 pursue the intruder, however formidable, with great spirit, even 

 beyond the bounds of the water." 



The tough and mailed hide of the sturgeon * must have 

 tried the flint spear-head of the Indian of old ; and yet, 

 judging from the prevalence of its remains in the kitchen 

 middens, the fish must have entered greatly into the fare of the 

 natives. The two-barbed steel weapon used by the present 

 race contrasts with the former ; and, unless left in the body, 

 or unless many were driven in in succession, it is difficult to 

 understand how the simple pointed flint was retained during 

 the struggles and scuffles such as ensue at the present day 

 with the formidable and efficient harpoon ; for even with all 

 its superior advantages, canoes are frequently upset when a 

 large sturgeon is struck and suddenly makes off. No doubt 

 there is a spice of the old savage hunter still lurking in the 

 hearts of these degenerate descendants of a ruder race, and it 

 is interesting to note how apethetic and unimpressionable 

 they are on most subjects, until recurring to exploits of the 

 chase, such as bass and sturgeon spearing, deer hunting, and 

 the like, when the minutest details are preserved and narrated 

 afterwards with marked delight. The smallest sturgeons 

 captured in the rivers are seldom under a foot, whilst inter- 

 mediate sized individuals, up even to fifteen feet in length, are 

 taken in the fresh and salt waters ; the generality, however, 

 are about half as long. 



During June, when the silvery salmon trout is plentiful in the 

 streams connecting the various lakes, there is found associated 

 with it a Red-banded Sucker, five to six inches in length, 

 with a brilliant red bar extending lengthways down its sides. 

 I examined several specimens of this fish, kindly procured for 

 me from the Sciff Lake stream of the eastern Schoodic chain 

 of lakes by Major Monk and Captain Wolseley. It seems to 

 * Pasagis of the Melicite Indians. 



