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 caudal, 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 sup- 
ply of Salt Lake City 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 the “suckers eat the trout first”. No 
full description of Oatostomus fecundus has been yet published. It wilh 
be seen from the following account that it is well separated from all its 
congeners, and that in many respects it approaches Chasmistes liorus. 
It is, in fact, probably the parent stock of the genus Chasmistes. 
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 protrude, forming a distinct “nose”, as in 
Ohasmistes 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 papille. Lower lip moderately developed, divided nearly into 
two parts by a broad emargination, each lobe with about six rows of 
coarse papille. Mouth not large. Interorbital space strongly convex, 
its width nearly equal to length of snout. Eye a little behind the mid. 
dle of the head, its diameter contained 7 times in the length of the head. 
Isthmus broader than eye. Scales 8-60-8, 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 moderately 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 44 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. 
