LAKE WHITEFISH 



Coregoniis clupeajormis (Mitchill) 



Lake whitefish are found in the larger and deeper lakes of Maine 

 and west to Lake Superior and southern Canada. Although they may 

 be taken on flies, whitefish are not generally considered a game species. 



Lake whitefish spawn in the fall with the peak of activity in early 

 November. Spawning migrations are made to shoal areas or they ascend 

 streams. Males usually become mature in the third or fourth year and 

 females in their fifth year. The eggs are spawned, fertilized, and fall to 

 the bottom where they develop. There is no parental care of the eggs or 

 young. Young whitefish hatch in March or April. 



Lake whitefish are abundant in many Maine lakes where they pro- 

 vide excellent forage for our coldwater game fishes. Although the bulk 

 of their diet is small crustaceans and aquatic insects, specimens have 

 been taken with their stomachs full of small smelt and occasionally a 

 small game fish. 



Average lengths of diff'erent age groups are: 



Age 

 234 5 6789 10 



Total length 10.3 12.5 13.0 13.4 14.1 15.1 15.7 16.6 16.3 

 (inches) 



During routine sampling of fish populations for the lake inventories 

 of 1957 several populations of small mature whitefish were found in 

 northern Aroostook County lakes. Total lengths of these mature fish 

 were in the 7- or 8-inch range. A pigmy whitefish has been described 

 from Canada and it may be that populations exist in Maine. 



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