A Study of the Ciscoes* of Lake Erie. 
By WILBERT A. CLEMENS, 
University of Toronto 
This study was carried out under the auspices of the Biological Board of 
Canada in response to a request from the Lake Erie Fishermens’ Association 
for an investigation of some of the problems in connection with the cisco fishing 
industry. In the request it was desired particularly that some information be 
obtained as to why smaller ciscoes in general are taken in the eastern end of the 
lake than in the western part. 
The major portion of the work having to do with the measurements of the 
fish and the taking of scales was carried out at various points on Lake Erie 
during the summer and fall of 1920, but shipments from various points were 
examined in Toronto during the years of 1919 and 1920. 
The author desires to express his appreciation of the assistance given by many 
fishermen, in particular by Mr. A. E. Crewe, who kindly provided accommoda- 
tion for the carrying out of the work during the summer of 1920, freely placed 
all the material of his catches for examination, and gave assistance in many 
ways. Other gentlemen who facilitated the work in supplying material and in 
other ways were: Messrs. Charles Ross, Roy Ross, Wilson S. McKillop, A. B. 
Hoover, C. W. Barwell, R. Kolbe, and W. D. Bates. 
IDENTIFICATION OF SPECIES 
For the separation of the species of shallow water ciscoes (subgenus 7/ris- 
somimus) as described by Jordan and Evermannj (1911) it appears that three 
proportional measurements are more or less critical, namely, head in length, 
depth in length, and depth of caudal peduncle in head. Jordan and Evermann 
give the following proportions: 
*The word cisco is here used instead of herring for all members of the genus Leucichthys 
except for the tullibees, in accordance with the list of standardized names of North American 
fish as agreed upon by the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries, the Biological Board of Canada and the 
Canadian Fisheries Association. 
jJordan, D. S., and Evermann, B. W. 1911. A Review of the Salmonoid Fishes of the 
Great Lakes with notes on the Whitefishes of other Regions. Bull. U.S. Bureau Fish., Vol. xxix 
(1909). Document No. 737 (1911). 
~I 
Or 
