THE SALMON. THE NAMAYCUSH Trout. 18 inches; from the snout to the pectoral | posterior angle of the gill covers; length 2 to the first dorsal 44; width of the head 2.4, longest cirri 4.3. Rays, B. 8, P. 1|7, V. 8, D. 1|6-0, A. 25, C, 18. equals one fourth their height; ventrals on a line opposite the middle of the dorsal, having on their sides a large axillary scale; anal fin white, higher than long; caudal dark brown, forked. Rays, D. 12, P. 15, V. 9, A. 10, C. 19. -Storer. HISTORY.-The Salmon, formerly very plentiful in nearly all the large streams in this state, is now so exceedingly rare a visitant that I have not been able to obtain a specimen taken in our waters, from which to make a description for this work. HISTORY.-When I prepared my list of fishes at the beginning of this chapter, I supposed our Cat Fish to be the P. canosus of Richardson. Upon re-examination, since that list was printed, I find our fish does not agree with his description, and I am now satisfied that it does not belong to that species. It is probably one of the eight species described by Le Sueur in the Memoires du Masum d'Histoire Natu-They have entirely ceased to ascend our relle, at Paris, but not having access to that work, I am unable to designate the species, or to say with certainty that it is embraced among those there described. This species is only occasionally taken in the vicinity of Burlington, but is regarded as very good fish for the table. In some parts of lake Champlain it is said to be quite plentiful. rivers, and only straggling individuals are now met with in lake Champlain. I have heard of only one being taken here during the past summer, and that I did not see. The causes which have been principally operative in driving these fishes from our waters have already been mentioned. When the country was new, according to Dr. Williams, there was a regular and abundant migration of these fishes to and from our waters, in spring and autumn.* They came up Connecticut river about the 25th of April, and proceeded to the highest branches. Shortly after they appeared in lake Champlain and the large streams which fall into it. So strong is their instinct for migration, that, in ascending the streams, they forced their passage over cataracts of several feet in height, and in opposition to the most rapid currents. They were sometimes seen to make six or seven at spring they were plump and fat, and of an excellent flavor; and from the begin DESCRIPTION.--Color bluish silvery tempts before they succeeded in ascendabove, lighter on the sides and white being the falls. When thus going up in the neath; black blotches upon the sides, much more numerous above the lateral line, for the most part surrounding the outline of the scales, leaving the color of the body unchanged; the spots upon the scaleless head are unbroken, and of a deeper color. Length of the head equal to one fifth the length of the fish; head sloping, darker colored above than the back of the specimen. Gill covers light silvery colored. Eyes small, pupil black, irides silvery; diameter of the eye equal to one fourth the distance between the eyes. Nostrils nearer the eyes than the extremity of the snout. Upper jaw longest, receiving into a notch at its middle the prominent tip of the lower jaw; both jaws, the palatine bones, vomer and tongue armed with sharp incurved teeth; lateral line nearly straight. The first dorsal fin commences on the anterior half of the body, height of its first rays equals its length; dark colored, with longitudinal rows of black blotches upon its base; length of the adipose fin equals one third its height; pectorals arise in front of the ning of May to the middle of June they were taken in great numbers. When they arrived in the upper parts of the streams they deposited their spawn. Towards the end of September they returned to the ocean, but so emaciated and lean as to be of little account as an article of food. In the spring, salmon were often taken weighing from 30 to 40 pounds. THE NAMAYCUSH, OR LONGE. * History of Vermont, vol. 1, page 147. THE LONGE, OR SALMON TROUT. THE BROOK TROUT. found in most of the lakes and large ponds in the northern parts of North America. In the great lakes at the northwest it is often taken weighing from 30 to 60 pounds, and according to Dr. Mitchell, it has been taken at Michilimackinac of the enormous weight of 120 pounds. This fish was formerly common in lake Champlain and in several ponds in the western part of the state, but, like the Salmon, it is now rarely caught in those waters. It is, however, still found in considerable plenty in several ponds in the northern part of Vermont, particularly in Orleans county. Bell-water pond in Barton, and several ponds in Glover, Charleston, &c., are much celebrated on account of the fine Longe which they afford. These usually vary from half a pound to 10 pounds, but are often much larger. Individuals are said to have been taken recently in Glover weighing 25 pounds, and in Charleston exceeding 40 pounds. Salmon; head flattened and slightly convex between the eyes; greatest depth contained about five times in the total length. Color dark bluish brown above approaching to black on the head; sides thickly spotted with roundish, yellowish gray spots on a dark brownish gray ground, the spots nnequal, but usually about the size of a small pea; belly yel lowish white; fins dark brown mottled with yellowish white; the pectorals, ventrals and anal slightly tinged with orange yellow. Lateral line plain, prominent and nearly straight. Scales small and thin, but much larger than on the Brook Trout. Eyes midway between the tip of the snout and the nape, and twice as near the former as to the hind edge of the gill cover, the measurement being made from the centre of the pupil; iris yellowish. Nostrils nearer the eye than the tip of the snout, double, orifices nearly equal, the anterior having a raised margin. Jaws equal, strong, and armed with inThis fish passes most of the time in the curved, sharp, conical teeth; similar teeth deepest parts of the lakes and ponds, but on the front part of the vomer, on the according to Dr. Richardson, resorts to palate bones, and two rows on the tongue, the shallows to spawn in October. It is with a deep groove between them. Pre- a very voracious fish, and is sometimes operculum but little carved, and nearly termed the tyrant of the lakes. It is ta vertical, suboperculum large and finely ken with the hook and line, and is also grooved. The dorsal fin medial, higher speared by torch light Its flesh is of a than long, and the ventral situated nearly reddish yellow color, and is very much under the middle of it; adipose fin club- esteemed as an article of food. Roasting shaped and nearly over the posterior ray is said to be the best method of cooking of the anal; the anal higher than long, it. "The Canadian voyageurs are fond the anterior part being three times the of eating it raw, in a frozen state, after height of the posterior; tail forked, with scorching it for a second or two over a pointed lobes. Length of the specimen a quick fire, until the scales can be easily before me 234 inches-to the posterior detached, but not continuing the applicaedge of the operculum 54-to the begin- tion of heat long enough to thaw the inning of the dorsal 104-to the vent 15-terior."" weight 4 pounds. Rays, B. 12, P. 15, D. 11, V. 9, A. 11, C. 19. HISTORY.-This species of Trout bears considerable resemblance to the Salmo trutta, or Salmon Trout, of Europe, and being mistaken for that fish by the first European settlers of this country, it has since usually borne the name of Salmon Trout. In the northern parts of this state and in the eastern townships in Canada, it is at present extensively known by the name of Longe. In Pennant's Arctic Zoology, and by the fur traders at the northwest, its more common appellation is Namaycush, or Namaycush Salmon. It is called by Dr. Mitchell the Great Lake Trout, and he describes it under the scientific name of Salmo amethystus.* This magnificent trout equals or surpasses the Common Salmon in size, and is Jour. of the Acad. Nat. Science, Philadelphia, Vol. 1, page 410. THE BROOK TROUT. Salmo fontinalis.—MITCHELL. DESCRIPTION.--Color above brown, with darker markings, fading into white or yellowish white on the belly; sides with numerous roundish yellow spots of unequal size, but usually about the bigness of a small pea; and also very small bright red spots commonly situated within the yellow ones. These red spots are extremely variable, being very few in some specimens and numerous in others. The caudal and first dorsal fin transversely banded or mottled with black. Head one seventh the total length, darker colored than the back. Eyes large, iris silvery. Teeth hook inward, on the jaws, tongue, palatine bones and vomer; those on the tongue largest. Jaws equal. Scales very * Richardson's Fauna Boreali Americana, vol. III, page 180. THE BROOK TROUT. minute. Lateral line straight. First dorsal fin on the anterior half of the body; adipose fin small, brownish yellow margined with black, and behind the anal; pectorals under the posterior part of the operculum; ventrals under the middle of the first dorsal; first ray of the anal, ventral and pectoral fins white; the second or third ray usually black, the rest of the fin reddish. Tail slightly forked. Rays, Br. 11, P. 13, V. 8, A. 10, D. 10, C. 19. HISTORY.-The Brook Trout is more generally diffused over the state than any other species of fish; there being scarcely a brook, or rill of clear water, descending from our hills and mountains in which it is not found. When the country was new they also abounded in the larger streams, where they often grew to the weight of two or three pounds. But they have been diminished by the causes already mentioned, and have been sought after with such eagerness as the most delicious article of food of the fish kind, that they are now seldom taken in our streams exceeding half a pound in weight, and much the greater number of them weigh less than a quarter of a pound. In many of the ponds they are still taken of of a larger size, but their flavor is thought to be less delicious than that of those taken in running water, especially in ponds with muddy bottoms. The rapidity with which this and other species of fishes multiply under favorable circumstances was exemplified in an astonishing manner at an early day, in Tinmouth, in this state. A stream which was about 20 feet wide, and which, like other streams, contained trout and suckers of the ordinary size and number, had a dam built across it for the purpose of supplying water for a saw mill. This dam formed a pond, which covered, by estimation, about 1000 acres, where THE SMELT. they thus increased in numbers they also became more than double their former size. This great increase of fishes is supposed to have been occasioned by the increased means of subsistence, in consequence of carrying the water over a large tract of rich and uncultivated land.'* The trout is usually taken with the hook, and the bait universally used is the red earth worm, every where known by the name of Angle Worm. Fishing for trout is a favorite and common amusement, and parties frequently go 15 or 20 miles for the sake of indulging in it. GENUS OSMERUS.-Artedi. Generic Characters.-Body elongated, covwith rays, the second fleshy without rays; ventral ered with small scales; two dorsal fins, the first fins under the front part of the first dorsal; teeth long on the jaws and tongue, two distinct rows on the palatine bones, but none on the vomer, except at the most anterior part; branchial rays eight. THE SMELT. Osmerus eperlanus.-ARTEDI. Yarrell's British Fishes, 11-75, fig. Journal Acad. Nat. Sci, Phil., I-230. Fauna Boreali Amer, Fishes, page 185. Storer's Report, Mass. Fishes, page 108. DESCRIPTION. Semi-transparent, color silvery, greenish above and white beneath; top of the head and edges of the jaws blackish; under jaw longest, with a keelshaped projection near its extremity; teeth on the tongue and palate, and two rows on each jaw, mostly large and hooking inwards; mouth large; nostrils very the trees were thick and the soil had nevlarge and nearer to the snout than to the er been cultivated. In two or three years, eral line straight. Scales of moderate eye. Eye rather large, iris silvery; latthe fish were multiplied in this pond to an incredible number. At the upper end, size, thin and transparent. where the brook fell in, the fish were to and transparent; the dorsal, caudal, and be seen in the spring running over one upper edges of the pectoral brownish; all the rest white and delicate; height of another, so embarrassed by their own numbers as to be unable to escape from the first dorsal twice its length; ventrals any attempt made to take them. They under the first rays of the dorsal; tail were taken by the hands at pleasure, and forked, with spreading, pointed lobes. swine caught them without difficulty. Length of the longest of two specimens With a small net the fishermen would before me 9 inches, greatest depth 11 take half a bushel at a draught, and repeat their labors with the same success. Carts were loaded with them in as short a time as people could gather them up when thrown upon the banks; and it was customary to sell them in the fishing season for a shilling a bushel. inch. Fins slender Rays, B. 8, P. 11, V. 8, D. 11, A. 15, C. 17. HISTORY.-The Smelt is one of those migratory species of fishes, which pass a part of the time in salt water and a part While * Williams' History of Vermont, vol. 1, p. 149. THE HERRING FAMILY. THE WHITE FISH. in fresh. Though not a constant visitant in our waters, he occasionally makes his appearance, and is sometimes taken in lake Champlain in very considerable numbers. The form of this fish is long and slender, and its bright silvery hue renders it very beautiful. It is sometimes taken with the hook, but more commonly with the net, and is very highly esteemed as an article of food. In Massachusetts, according to Dr. Storer's Report, 750,000 dozen of these fishes are taken annually in Watertown alone, and sent to Boston market. GENUS COREGONUS. Generic Characters.—Head small; mouth small and edentate, or furnished with very small teeth; scales large; length of the first dorsal fin less than the height of its anterior portion, second dorsal adipose and without rays; branchial rays seven or eight. WHITE FISH, OR LAKE SHAD. HISTORY.-This fish, though the same as the celebrated White Fish of the western and northwestern lakes, is generally known in Vermont by the name of Lake Shad. Its Indian name at the northwest is Attihawmeg. This fish is quite common in lake Champlain, and, in some years, is taken in the months of May and June in considerable quantities with the seine. It is also found in many of the small lakes, in Lower Canada, connected with the St. Lawrence on the south side, notwithstanding the assertion of Dr. Richardson that it does not exist in the St. Lawrence below the falls of Niagara. This is universally considered a most excellent fish, and nearly all are disposed to acquiesce in the opinion of Charlevoix, that, "whether fresh, or salted, nothing of the fish kind can excel it;" but few, I think, will agree with the Baron La Hontau, who says that it should be eaten without any kind of seasoning, because "it has the singular property that all kinds of sauce spoil it." In warm weather this fish should be either cooked, or salted, soon after it is taken, as it quickly becomes soft and is spoiled. It is excellent either boiled or fried. The mode of boiling at the northwest, according to Dr. Richardson, is as follows: "After the fish Coregonus albus.-LE SUEUR. is cleansed, and the scales scraped off, it Journal Academy Nat. Sci., Phil., I--332. is cut into several pieces, which are put Fauna Boreali Amer, Fishes, page 195, fig. into a thin copper kettle, with water Boston Journal Natural History, III-477, pl. 28. enough to cover them, and placed over a DESCRIPTION.Form ovate, slightly slow fire. As soon as the water is on the tapering towards the tail; body deep and point of boiling the kettle is taken off, thick; head pointed, and with the mouth, shook by a semi-circular motion of the very small; teeth in the jaws few, and so hand backwards and forwards, and reminute as scarcely to be perceptible to placed on the fire for a short time. If the the sight or touch in the recent specimen; shaking be not attended to exactly at the color silvery, bluish gray on the back, proper moment, or be unskilfully perlighter on the sides, and pearly white on formed, the fish, coagulating too suddenthe belly, with a delicate iridescent play ly, becomes comparatively dry to the of colors throughout. Scales large, thin, taste, and the soup is poor.' The stompearly and very deciduous, arranged in ach of this fish is remarkably thick, and about 20 longitudinal rows, giving the when cleansed and cooked is esteemed a fish a slightly striped appearance; lateral great luxury. The White Fish is very line very nearly straight; fins small, thick and fleshy, and on account of the brownish, often tinged with red; the dor- smallness of the head, fins and intestines, sal mid-way between the snout and the the waste in dressing is less than in any extremity of the tail; the posterior rays other fish. The greater part of those taof the dorsal and anal fins much shorter ken in lake Champlain are from 15 to 20 than the anterior, giving those fins a tri-inches in length, and weigh from 1 to 3 angular appearance; adipose fin rather pounds, though smaller ones are often talarge; caudal forked and spreading; a ken, and occasionally larger ones, weighlong, slender bract above and partly being from 3 to 6 pounds. They are usually hind the ventral fins. Length of the specimen before me, which is considerably larger than the average size and very fat, 22 inches, depth 6, thickness 24, and weight 54 pounds. Rays, Br. 8, P. 15, V. 11, D. 14,—0, A. 14, C. 19. sold fresh as taken from the water, and the price varies from 6 to 10 cents a pound. The White Fish seems to subsist principally upon small molluscous ani mals. I have sometimes found more * Fauna Borcali Americana, vol. III, page 196. THE COMMON SHAD. than 100 univalve and bivalve shells in the stomach of a single fish. V.-CLUPIDE OR HERRING FAMILY. GENUS ALOSA.-Cuvier. Generic Characters.-Body compressed; scales large, thin, and deciduous; head compressed; teeth minute, or wanting; a single dorsal fin; abdominal line forming a sharp keel-like edge, which in some species is serrated; upper jaw with a deep notch in the centre; gill rays 8. THE COMMON SHAD. Alosa vulgaris.-Cuv. McMurtrie, Cuvier, ii, 235. Yarrell's British es, ii, 136. Storer's Report, Fishes of Massachusetts, page 116. THE WINTER SHAD. THE WINTER SHAD. DESCRIPTION.-Body deep and thin: back elevated and nearly straight; belly trenchant; dorsal fin quadrangular; ventrals with large branching rays, and a Fish-long bract over their base; anal fin long, with the anterior portion large and pointed, and nearly straight, or rounded with a depression between it and the posterior portion. Color towards the back bluish, with metalic reflections, pearly and sil very below; head small, greenish brown above, with bronze reflections on the sides; dorsal and caudal fins brown, the others lighter. Eyes far forward, large, round; pupil black; iris with yellow and pearly reflections. Nostrils large, double, and very near the end of the snout; lateral line nearly straight, nearer the back than the belly; tail deeply forked; scales rather large, brilliant, about 60 on the lateral line. Mouth ob DESCRIPTION-Color of the top of the head and back bluish; upper portion of the sides, including the opercula, cupreous; beneath silvery; whole body covered with large, deciduous scales, with the exception of the head, which is naked; eyes large; pupils black; irides silvery; diameter of the eye equal to the distance between the eyes; nostril nearer the eye than the snout; upper jaw notched in the centre; its lateral edges slightly crenated; abdomen serrated; a black blotch at the posterior angle of the operculum; dorsal fin on the middle of the back, shuts into a groove; height equallique; jaws even when shut, but on acto two-thirds its length; pectorals silvery; height to the length as 3 to 1; ventrals opposite the middle of the dorsal; anal received into a groove; caudal deeply forked. Length of the head to the whole length of the body as 1 to 6. Usual weight from 1 to 4 pounds. Rays, D. 19, P. 16, V. 9, A. 20, C. 20. -S'orer. HISTORY.-This excellent and valuable fish, which is common both to Europe and America, was formerly taken in Connecticut river in large quantities, particularly in the neighborhood of Bellows Falls. It is still taken plentifully in Merrimack river, and in many other streams which flow into the Atlantic ocean from N.England. I cannot learn that it has ever been taken in lake Champlain, but on account of some resemblance in form and appearance between this species and the Coregonus albus, or White Fish, the name of Shad, or Lake Shad, is here very generally applied to the latter. count of the obliquity of the gape the lower jaw appears longest when the mouth is open; numerous small conical teeth in both jaws, on the vomer, palatine bones, and tongue, the latter largest and hooking inward. Length 13 inches; depth 34; diam. of the eye .7. Rays, B. 8, P. 12, V. 7, D. 11, A. 30, C. 18. HISTORY.-Le Sueur's account of the genus Hiodon was published in 1818, in the Journal of the Academy of Natural Sciences. In this paper he describes what he considers two species, to which he gives the name of H. tergisus and H. clodulus, but at the same time intimates a possibility that they may both belong to the same species. The difference upon which he constituted the two species, was in the form of the anal fins, the H. tergisus having the anterior portion of that fin rounded, with a depression between that and the posterior portion, and H. clodalus with the anterior portion pointed, and the line to the posterior angle nearly straight. GENUS HIODON.-Le Sueur. I have before me two specimens, which Generic Characters.-The form of a her- were caught at the same time. One is ring; abdomen trenchant, but not serrated; one 134 inches long, and has the pointed and dorsal fin opposite to the beginning of the anal; straight anal fin of Le Sueur's H. clodalus, hooked teeth on the jaws,vomer and tongue; head and the other, 13 in. long, has the roundsmall; eyes very large and situated near the ended, notched anal fin of his H. tergisus. In of the snout; branchial rays eight or nine. other respects scarcely any difference can |