PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 463 



7-61-9 ; 28 series in front of the dorsal. Insertion of dorsal nearly mid- 

 way between snout and base of candal, the fin elevated in front, the 

 anterior ray twice the height of the posterior, and about equal to the 

 base of the fin ; the free margin of the fin nearly straight. Caudal fin 

 deeply forked, the lower lobe the longer. Lower fins all small. Dorsal 

 rays 11 ; anal 7. 



12. Catostomus fecundus Cope & Yarrow. — Utah Sucker. 



This species occurs in Utah Lake in numbers which are simply enor- 

 mous, justifying Mr. Madsen's assertion that the lake is the "greatest 

 sucker pond in the universe". It is very destructive to the trout. It 

 ascends the rivers in the spring to spawn at the same time as the latter 

 species, on the eggs of which it feeds. In the interest of the food sui)- 

 ply of Salt Lake \vity an organized attempt at the reduction or extirpa- 

 tion of this species may become necessary. The old trout feed largely 

 on the young of this species, but tlie "suckers eat the trout first". jSTo 

 full description of Catostomus fecundus has been yet published. It will 

 be seen from the following account that it is well separated from all its 

 congeners, and that in many respects it approaches Ckasmistes liorus. 

 It is, in fact, jjrobably the parent stock of the genus Ckasmistes. 



Body moderately stout, a little elevated, not much compressed, taper- 

 ing into a long and slender caudal peduncle. Head subconic, the pro- 

 file regularly decurved from the nape to the base of the premaxillary 

 spines, which abruptly i)rotrude, forming a distinct "nose", as in 

 Ckasmistes liorus, Preorbital long. Premaxillary a little below the 

 level of the preorbital. Mandible large, oblique, placed at an angle of 

 30° when the mouth is closed ; its length about one-third that of the 

 head. Upper lip protractile, full, pendant, with about four rows of 

 coarse x>apill8e. Lower lip moderately developed, divided nearly into 

 two parts by a broad emargiuation, each lobe with about six rows of 

 coarse paj)illre. Mouth not large. Interorbital space strongly convex, 

 its width nearly equal to length of snout. Eye a little behind the mid. 

 die of the head, its diameter contained 7 times in the length of the head. 

 Isthmus broader than eye. Scales 8-G0-8, reduced in size forward; 

 breast scaly. 



Insertion of dorsal about midway between snout and base of caudal; 

 the first ray nearly twice the height of the last, its length greater than 

 that of the base of the fin. Caudal fin moderatelj^ forked, the lower 

 lobe longest and widest. Pectorals long, reaching more than half way 

 to ventrals, the latter not to vent. Anal high. Fin-rays: Dorsal 11; 

 anal 7 ; ventrals 9. Length of head contained 4 times in total length 

 to base of caudal ; greatest depth 4^ times. Color blackish above, sil- 

 very below, the fins slightly dusky tinged, the dark colors formed of 

 black points. 



This species seems to reach a smaller size than the other lake suckers. 



