Lake Seneca. 453 
Tho fish which inhabit it are not so numerous as in some of 
the other lakes; but owing to the low temperature of the water 
in its deeper parts, and the character of the feeding grounds, the 
fish are of a very fine flavor. Salmon were once numerous here, 
but owing to the artificial obstructions upon the outlet, they have 
been unable since to get into the lake. The salmon trout is now 
first in size, and perhaps for general purposes of cookery, may 
also claim a superiority; the largest seldom exceed 12 pounds, 
although in some of the adjoining lakes in rare instances, there 
have been some caught which much exceeded this weight. Next 
in size is the pike, a powerful and ravenous fish, passably good 
for boiling, but indifferent for the pan. Third in size is the white 
fish, a delicious fish when fresh for most purposes. The black 
bass is an excellent fish, although it seldom exceeds four and a 
half pounds, and nearly resembles in flavor the sea bass. These 
are the most important varieties of the original fish of the lake; 
what are termed pickerel, were put into the crooked lake from 
one of the tributaries of the Susquehanna, and have descended 
hence seven miles through the outlet to the Seneca. There are 
several varieties of the soft mouthed fish that are eatable, when 
no better can be procured. The eels grow large and become very 
fat, and are highly esteemed as forming a peculiarly rich dish. 
The yellow perch sometimes reach two and a half pounds in 
weight. The pickerel do not increase, and are but seldom seen, 
having met in the pike, destroyers as great as they themselves 
prove to the fish of other waters. The bullpout and catfish are 
numerous, the latter particularly so. The dogfish, (Salamandra 
alleghaniensis,) belonging to the lizard family, is frequently seen. 
Frogs, toads, lizards, snakes, and turtles are numerous, and the 
variety of the latter denominated the soft shell, is often taken. 
Of birds, the aquatic are the most interesting to the sportsman. 
There are numerous varieties which frequent the waters of the 
lake; some of them are excellent for the table; and the naturalist 
liere finds many fine specimens. That singular bird, the old wife, 
(Anas glacialis,) may be heard until June, with its restless in- 
describable notes; and the little buflfel-headed duck, (Anas albeola,) 
may he seen swimming in happy innocence on the water. Gulls 
and waders are numerous, but the wild goose seldom remains here 
any length of time. Of land birds, we find varieties in size from 
the bald-headed eagle to the little burnished humming bird. A 
family of the former occupy some of the venerable oaks of the 
M niseta, and I belive they are by universal consent, respected as 
lo ds paramount of those domains. The pheasant or partridge is 
fa t disappearing, but the whistle of the quail informs us that he 
likes the gleanings of the barn yard equally well as the solitude of 
the forest. The land birds are principally migratory, but few 
