68 THE FISHES OF OHIO. 
behind. Head slender and pointed; lower jaw strongly projecting; upper 
jaw emarginate. Color, brilliant blue above, sides silvery with golden 
reflections; no dark spot behind opercle. Length 15 inches. 
This is a deep water species, common in the Ohio river, and 
it has made its way through the canals into Lake Erie, where it 
is now said to be common. Ohio river, ‘‘ seldom as far as Pitts- 
burg,’’ Rafinesque; ‘‘very rare, two specimens seen in Cincin- 
nati market,’’ Kirtland, 1838 ; Hamilton County, ‘‘abundant in 
Ohio river,’’ Henshall, 1888. 
Family: SALMONIDA. 
Key to Cenera. 
A. Mouth not deeply cleft; dentition feeble or incomplete, scales large. 
B. Lower jaw short and more or less included, cleft of mouth short.— 
ne COREGONUS. 
BB. Lower jaw long, projecting beyond upper, cleft of mouth rather long.— 
ARGYROSOMUS. 
AA. Mouth deeply cleft; dentition strong and complete, scales small. 
Cc. Vomer with raised crest, which is armed with strong teeth; hyoid bone with a 
broad band of strong teeth; no bright colors.— CRISTIVOMER. 
CC. Vomer without raised crest; hyoid with weak teeth or none; spotted with 
red.— SALVELINUS. 
Genus: COREGONUS. 
Coregonus clupeiformis (Mitchill), COMMON WHITEFISH. 
Head 5; depth 3 to 4; eye 4 to 5. D,11; A. 11; scales 8-74 to 85-9. 
Body oblong, compressed, always elevated, especially so in adult. Head 
comparatively small and short; the snout obliquely truncated. Gill rakers 
numerous, long and slender. Color olivaceous above; sides white, but not 
silvery; lower fins sometimes dusky. Length 2 feet or more. 
In Ohio the Whitefish is found only in Lake Erie, where it 
occurs in great numbers. It does not ascend streams. Recorded 
first by Kirtland. ‘‘ The most important fish of Ohio, both as to 
quantity taken and quality as food,”’ Jordan’s Report; L. Erie, 
Henshall, 1889; ‘‘common in the lake,’’ McCormick, 1892; 
“‘ west end of Lake Erie,’’ Kirsch, 1893. Great quantities from 
various parts of the lake are brought into the fish houses at San- 
dusky. 
