Biological Survey — Erie-Niagara Watershed 169 



Erie race has larger scales, is deeper in the forward part of the body and 

 averages much larger. 



23. Catostomus catostomus (Foster).* — Fine-scaled sucker, long-nosed 

 sucker, sturgeon sucker. Rare. There seem to be no recent records, but 

 statements of its occurrence in Lake Erie, cited by Dymond. 



24. Hypentelium nigricans (Le Sueur). — Hammerhead, hog sucker, stone- 

 roller sucker. Common. Prefers large, shallow, warm creeks. Occurs in 

 Lake Erie, usually near stream mouths. Unimportant as a food fish, but is 

 sometimes used (illegally) as bait, particularly for muskalonge. 



25. Erimyzon sucetta (Lacepede). — Club sucker, sweet sucker. Rare. One 

 specimen was taken in Muddy creek, near Angola. Records from Lake Erie 

 are given by Dymond. This species is the smallest member of the sucker 

 family in the region. 



26. Minytrema melanops Rafinesque.* — Striped sucker. Rare. Dymond 

 cites the records of its occurrence in Lake Erie. 



27. Moxostoma aureolum (Le Sueur). — Red-fin mullet, red-horse sucker. 

 Common in large streams of the eastern part of the drainage, such as EUicott 

 creek. It is found in the Niagara river and in Lake Erie, but is less common 

 in the lake than the next species. This large red-fin sucker, living as it 

 does in creeks, is probably the most important of its genus as an anglers' 

 fish. All of the group are good food fish, bringing a better price than the 

 common sucker and they are increasing in value. There is danger of their 

 becoming too rare, from pollution of streams in which they live or go into 

 to spawn, and from fishing and spearing during their spawning, -in spring, 

 The few young that were found came from streams. One taken August 10 

 from Tonawanda creek measured l^V inches. 



28. Moxostoma anisurum Rafinesque. — White-nosed red-fin mullet, red- 

 horse sucker. Common in Lake Erie, ascending streams to spawn. Eco- 

 nomically, this is the most important of the Moxostomas. This species is 

 said to run up streams to spawn, the run beginning as soon as ice is out of 

 streams. They are taken in Cattaraugus creek by means of seines and are 

 said to reach a size of 7 or 8 pounds. Young were found at several creek 

 nvouths. Six specimens from the mouth of Eighteenmile creek, taken July 

 21, averaged l-^^ inches. 



29. Moxostoma lesueurii (Richardson). — Short-headed red-fin mullet, red- 

 horse sucker. Common in Lake Erie, running up streams to spawn. The 

 run of "short-heads" in Cattaraugus creek is said to occur in May, later 

 than the run of the preceding species. The present species is smaller and 

 slimmer than anisurum but is said to be of the same quality. Limited num- 

 bers of both species are taken in gill nets. The principal means of capture 

 is the seine. 



30. Moxostoma duqesnii (Le Sueur). — Fine-scaled red-fin mullet, red-horse 

 sucker. Uncommon. Occurs in Lake Erie. Small specimens were numerous 

 at the mouth of Eighteenmile creek, and there is no doubt that this species 

 runs up streams to spawn. It is probably not distinguished frorn^ other 

 red-fin suckers by fishermen, and has been confused with others by ichthy- 

 ologists. However, characters of scale count and body proportions distinguish 

 it from allied species.i 



31. Placopharynx carinatus Cope.* — Big-mouth red-horse sucker. Rare. 

 Listed from Lake Erie by Hubbs. 



Cyprinidae Minnows 



32. Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus. — ^Carp.2 German carp. Common. Widely 

 distributed, occurring in nearly all waters except the small, rapid streams. 

 Although unpopular with anglers, it is important as a commercial fish, many 

 being shipped to New York City for sale. A few are smoked, mostly for 

 home consumption. In Lake Erie there are many carp, throughout the 



^ We are indebted to Dr. Carl L. Hubbs for a manuscript copy of The Speciei of 

 Red-horse Suckers of the Great Lakes and Mississippi Drainage Syitemi. 

 * Oswego Survey Report, 1927, contains illustration of young. 



