456 



Another marine family represented in our fresh waters is that of the 

 SciiEXiDiE, fish of compressed and elevated body with a long dorsal fin, thoracic 

 ventrals, and a complicated aii'-bladder. The Lake Sheepshead {Aplodinolus 

 [jfunniens) is the only fresh-water species ; it is sometimes s])oken of as the Lake 

 Huron Drum, from a peculiar gruntinsT noise which it produces, and which is 

 attributed by some to movements of the air in the air-bladder, and by others, 

 with more i)robal)ilifcy, to the crunching up of the crayfish on which it lives, by 

 the broad grinding teeth of the lower pharyngeal bones, which are most 

 characteristic of the species. The fish attains' a length of four feet and a weight 

 of fifty to sixty pounds, but is not valued for food, at least not from the Great 

 Lakes. 



Before leaving the spiny-rayed fishes reference may be made to two families 

 of minute fishes which differ conspicuously in their appearance and habits, but 

 which have one or two fresh-water species. The first of these is the Gasterosteid^ 

 (Sticklebacks), distinguished by the absence of scales and the presence of hony 

 plates, wdiich clothe the sides. Two species are common in the Great Lnke 

 R'igion, G. pwnrjitinjS, the nine-spined Stickleback, and G. {Eacalid) incnnslans, 

 the five-spined species. Both are spawn-eaters, and are characterized by the 

 elaborate nest built out of glandular secretions of the males, and defended by 

 them with great vigour. 



The second family is that of the CottiDtE or Sculpins, represented in our 

 fredi waters by several spscies of iVtiller's Taainbs, Cotttvi rlchardsoni and others, 

 and characterized by the high position of the eyes, smooth skin, spiny head, and 

 long dor-al fin, (D. VllI, 17; A. 12.) They are always of small size and appear 

 often to be confined to the deep waters of the lakes. 



The only other family of Teleosts represented in the fresh waters of the 

 Province is that of the Gadid^ or Codfishes, a characteristically marine group 

 embracing some of the most important of food-fishes ; but, in as far as the one 

 genus confined to fresh water (Lota) is concerned, entirely unimportant economically. 

 This genus is also represented in Europe by a closely allied species, and is known 

 as the Burbot ; it is therefore convenient to use the name American Burbot for 

 our form, L. onaculosa, which is common in the deep waters of the lakes, although 

 its nomenclature is very varied. It is abundant northward and westward, where 

 ir, is known as the Mathemeg of the Indians and "La Loche " of the voyageurs. 

 It hardly reaches the markets from the Great Lakes, being considered a ver}'- poor 

 fish, but in the fur countries it would appear to be more appreciated, the liver and 

 roe especially being regarded as delicacies. It spawns in March, and is very 

 prolific; as it is a carnivorous and voracious fish it is probably to be regardeil 

 as an enemy at least to the young of more edible fishes. It attains a considerable 

 size and weight, up to forty-five pounds, and is heavier in the more northern 

 waters. As in all the Gadidae, the dorsal and anal fins are long and contain 

 oidy soft rays. (The formula is D. 14 — 7G, A. 68). The body is long and com- 

 pressed behind, the head small and broad, provided with barbels, the skin thick 

 and mucous with small imbedded scales and the general colouration dark olive 

 marbled with black, but paler beneath. Like so many fresh-water fish common 

 to rivej's and lakes, it attains to comparatively insignificant dimensions in the 

 former. 



