4 6 S 
AMERICAN FISHES. 
of a mackerel. The ‘ Namaycush ’ is dry and lacks delicacy, and can¬ 
not be even fried without pork-fat or lard. 
“ 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 fisherman 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 sub-max- 
illaries, which in the Namaycush are heavy, rigid, and rounded. The 
coloring varies in different specimens according to locality whence 
taken. The spots or markings are unlike those of the Namaycush, 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, begin¬ 
ning in October. We have just taken half a million eggs. The Siscowet, 
I am told by the fisherman and Indians, are always spawning, or that ripe 
females are taken at all times of the year. At first I thought this an ex¬ 
aggeration, 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 pecu¬ 
liarity 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 tfiirty-six inches in length, I am told by those very 
familiar with the fishes of the lake. On the same authority I learn that 
Namaycush reach ninety pounds in weight and six feet in length.” 
