232 Fishes of the Ohio 



In form this species approaches the Scombers ; a section 

 of it is oval. Head small and narrow ; snout short, termina- 

 ted by small intermaxillaries ; maxillaries wide, sharp-edged 

 as in the herring, edges entire ; mandibles carinate, producing 

 inversely a triangular pedunculate expansion, very small con- 

 ical teeth inserted in the skin of the lips, at the extremity of 

 the jaws : these teeth were sufficiently manifest in a small in- 

 dividual, but not visible in a larger one, a female, which came 

 under my observation. Rays in the osseous plate of the head 

 tubular, and open at the exterior, some tending backwards, 

 and others towards the end of the snout. A faint carinated 

 line divides the top of the head in the dried specimens. Lat- 

 eral line straight and near the middle ; nostrils double, close to 

 the end of the snout, and articulation of the maxillaries ; 

 scales round, approximated, easily falling off; the base of the 

 tail is covered with them. 



Color, Ash blue at the back, paler and silvery on the rest of 

 the body, with yellow tints on the tail, head and dorsal ; iris 

 whitish, pupil black. 



B. 9 ; P. 16 ; D. 12 ; V. 12 ; A. 13 ; C. f rays. 



Length ten to twelve inches. Very delicate food. Taken 

 in Lake Erie, and at Lewiston, Upper Canada. Called Her- 

 ring-Salmon." 



Observations. The specimens I have seen of this species, 

 were more highly colored than those described by Le Sueur. 

 The upper surface of the head is tinged with green ; the back 

 is of a bluish ash-color and olive, fading on the sides to sky- 

 blue ; the sides and abdomen of a brilliant silver lustre. 

 The side of the head anterior to the eye is delicately diapha- 

 nous, and the gill-covers are slightly touched in different parts 

 with a metallic lustre. 



The rays of the caudal fin are so much blended, that they 

 cannot be accurately counted. 



It is taken in the month of September at Cleveland, in 

 considerable numbers, and is decidedly the best fish for eating 

 obtained in that vicinity. 



