Common Sucker ; White Sucker 



the mouth of some inlet and swim slowly about in this way 

 for an hour or more just at sundown. The meaning of this 

 particular habit has not been e"Xplained. 



Head 4 to 4f; depth 5; eye 5 to 6 in head; snout 2; D. 

 12 to 14; A. 7; scales 12 to 14-65 to 75-10 or 11, about 40 

 before the dotsal. Body rather heavy forward, the caudal 

 peduncle slender; snout blunt, overlapping the horizontal mouth 

 which is quite large, with very large lips, the upper full and 

 pendant, with 6 to 8 rows of moderate papillae; dorsal fin much 

 longer than high; pectoral long and narrow; caudal well forked. 

 Colour, rather dark; a dusky lateral streak; abruptly pale below. 



Common Sucker ; White Sucker 



Catostomiis commet'sotiii (Lacepede) 



This is the most abundant sucker in the streams and lakes 

 from Quebec and Massachusetts westward to Montana and Colo- 

 rado and southward to Missouri and Georgia. Specimens from 

 Montana to Colorado have the lips broader and with more numer- 

 ous papillae. 



In the smaller streams this species reaches a length of but a 

 few inches, while in the larger streams and lakes it attains a 

 length of 18 inches or more and becomes a food-fish of consid- 

 erable importance. Though quite bony, its flesh is firm and 

 flaky and very sweet. In some parts of the country this species 

 is caught in large numbers and salted for winter use. It is usu- 

 ally taken by means of seines, traps or gillnets. 



51 



