Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1876-07-12


lakes of Wisconsin and Minnesota. For
the purposes, however, Of home consump-
tion, as well as for commerce, the great
chain of lakes affords the only field of
supply. These lakes In former years, and
even now after years of improvidcnce and
waste, produce millions annually. Yet
the catch is very apprcciably diminishing,
to the evident alarm of the States that
border on the lakes, and of the country
at largo. The causes ofthis decrease are
too transparent for enumeration or de-
signation. The simple mention of the
naked fact opens volume repletc with
bitter recollections and reproof. Ava
rice, human greed, regard neither the
times nor the modes of capture, and ig-
norance Is their stupid associate and ally.
Decay and famine even ever have follow
eel, and ever will follow in the footsteps
Of such a copartnership.
The size and quantity of the fish vary
In different waters. In theirmore north
ern habltit at Sault Ste Marie, (the outlet
of Lake Supcrior) they average four
pounds, and in the head. waters of Lake
Superior they have beef reported caught
weighing high as fifteen pounds while
from the more southern lakes of the chain
their average will not exceed two or three
pounds. The quality of the fish, too, Is
believed to vary In different waters
those on the north shores of the lakes
and in the higher latitudcs being regard
ed superior to those In lower ATTITUDES,
owing, as it is said, to the cold spring
streams that debouch in the lakes on the
north side, and to the constantly colder
water produced by q higher latitude.
A minute description of this fish is
hardly necessary, rs nearly every resident
of Michigan Is familiar with this most
excellent and popular fish. In general
terms IL may be stated its back is of Il
grayish color, the rest Is beautiful white,
and when emerging from the water, of
most lustrous appearance. Head small
rs contrasted with its body, and when
approaching the spawning period, the
head Is thought to decrease in size, i'm
parting to the fish almost deformcd look.
The spawning period Is from middle to
late autumn. Their natural resort Is i'm
deep water, except during the spawning
season, when they take to shoal water for
the deposition OF their spawn. The num-
Der in certain localities and at certain
seasons, being so greatly in excess oftheir
number In the same localities at other
seasons, has led some into the belief that
they are of n migratory habit, the great
bulk Of them retiring to the upper lakes
during the spring and summer and
leaving for the lower lakes as the
generation season arrives. This claim,
however, of a migratory habit or dis
position, is by no means clearly cstab-
lishcd The White Fish is q large but
.nt 1,rn haf In, ha an.
sense of artificial appliance TO rescue the
ova from the hydra mouths that lie In
wait for their destruction, but compara-
lively small results come from its prolific
habit. The young arc extremely active,
and incline to deep water, thereby cscap-
ing the attacks OF predaccous fish, and
of numerous other enemies that are ac-
customcd to glut their appctites and re
gale their native dcprayity in shoal wa
tiers.
On the subject Of the food of tho White
Fish there exists quite diversity OF
opinion. They being neither predatory
nor carnivorous feeders, the better Judg
ment seems to be that their food Is of
vegetable origin-the product of aquatic
plants, insects, and jelly-like crustacea
Their peculiar conformation and struc-
tural organism, their known habits, and
the quality of their meat, go to substan-
tiatc this view. Nothing has ever been
found in the intcStincs of the White Fish
that would establish in any degree their
plation 10 the prcdaccous or carnivor-
ous family; hence the inference, support
ed by oh scrvation, Is TO the effect that
their food Is OF vegetable origin, water
insects, the oifshoot Of cquatic plants,
and different forms Of crustacca. The
food of the young fish, too, soon after
Matched. must I've the innrsoria of the
wafer, that microscopic animalcula life
with which every drop of water teens
when brought into certain conditions,
ono of which conditions Is the presence
OF cquatic plants and vegetable growth.
This view accords with the teachings of
instinct, for the parent fish invariably
,eks the shoal waters for the deposition
Of their spawn, where there Is usually an
abundance of cquatic plants aud minute
insect life, instinct so directing and as
suring them that IN such place or places
will their offspring on emerging TO life
find the food adapted TO their delicate
and tender constitutions. The young
carries q sac the same as other members
of the Salmonida family which Is soon
absorbed, lasting them generally nom
seven 10 ten days. This yolk sac Of the
White Fish, unlike that Of the Trout or
| Salmon, from tho hour they dash away
the house Of their birth, seems to offer
no pcrceivablc resistance to their agile
movements.