Twenty-One NAVICATIN’ FOR NAMAYCUSH
“Namaycush,” the fish in this story, is an aboriginal word for fish, but the full term refers to the biological name for a type of freshwater salmon found in central and eastern North America, Salvelinus namaycush. It is possible that Tex could have known this aboriginal word, but since the word does not refer to fish or groups of Native people found in the Rockies, it could also be that Tex knew the scientific term. It is not the only time that Tex uses correct scientific terminology (see “Rams”). Instead of a way to showcase his work for the Smithsonian, this time the technical reference is the source of the joke in the story, where Tex pretends that he and Sawback have been conducting “scientific” research during a rather unfortunate attempt to catch a fish. As in other stories, Tex combines down-home phrases with Latin references, classical allusions, and Hollywood to make him seem as if he belongs in the Rockies, but can make fun of redneck habits at the same time.
-JR