OTSEGO BASS. -[51 
CHAPTEK X. 
OTSEGO BASS. 
Coregonics Otsego.— Thi^ fish must be carefully distin- 
guished from the Oswego Bass, there being no resem- 
blance except in the stupidity of confounding by name 
one of the perch family, to which the latter belongs, with 
one of the salmon family, to which this belongs. The 
Otsego Bass is closely allied to the white-fish, but has 
numerous dusky longitudinal lines on the sides. Its 
mouth and scales are small, and it appears to have no 
teeth except the bristles on the gill-arches. The lateral 
line is nearly straight, and the tail is deeply forked. 
The back is a rich blue, fading into green, the sides bril- 
liant with mother of pearl, and the belly gleaming like 
molten silver. The rays are as follows : 
Br. 9 ; D. 13 ; P. ir ; Y. 11 ; A. 11 ; C. 22. 
The second back fin, as in all the salmon tribe, is adi- 
pose and rayless. 
These fish have as yet only been found in Otsego 
Lake, where they are rapidly diminishing in size and 
numbers. They are not known to take any bait, and 
are presumed to feed on aquatic vegetation. Early in 
spring they seek the shallow water for a few days, when 
they are taken in nets; but shortly retiring to the 
deepest water, they remain till Autumn, when they 
