THE FISHES OF GEORGIAN BAY 13 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 39b 



Though a strong and vigorous swimmer, this fish is commonly seen lurking 

 among the weeds in the shallow water of swamps, lying motionless on the bottom, 

 or moving stealthily along by rhythmic undulations of the dorsal fin. It feeds on 

 swamp living fishes such as minnows, suckers, perch or the young of the game 

 fishes, but will eat crayfish, mud-puppies, or insects. 



The spawning period is from May 24th to June 1st. The eggs are deposited 

 in large open, but fairly deep depressions, scooped out of the mud among the flag 

 roots by the male fish. The nest is also guarded during the hatching period by 

 the male, which at this time will be found lying motionless in the bottom of the 

 depression, unless disturbed by the presence of minnows or other small fish on the 

 look-out for food. Young dogfish of about two inches in length are sometimes seen 

 in schools, swimming about in the swamps accompanied by the parent fish. It 

 appears, however, that the young fish are taken into deeper water immediately after 

 hatching and that as a rule they spend a considerable time in the deeper situations. 

 The fish taken inshore are most commonly large specimens, the young in various 

 stages of growth being unusual. 



Young dogfish of two inches in length show the general features of the adult, 

 but the darker ground markings are more conspicuous. There are three prominent 

 lines on the side of the head, one horizontal and passing through the eye, a second 

 passing along the upper jaw and extending backwards beneath the eye, and a 

 third on the lower jaw. The median fins have two bands of dark color, one marginal, 

 the other a short distance inward; also present in the adult, but obscured by the 

 general dark coloration. 



Family silurid^e. 



(Catfishes) 



This family is represented by two species, separable as follows: — 



Genus Ameiurus. 



a. Caudal fin rather deeply notched; anal fin with 23 to 27 rays. Catfishes of large 

 size lacustris. 



aa. Caudal fin at most slightly emarginate ; anal fin with 21 or 22 rays. Small catfishes, 

 usually 12 inches or less nebulosus. 



The black catfish (Ameiurus melas) is reported by Meek and Clark ('02) as 

 relatively more abundant than A. nebulosus in Muskoka and Gull Lakes, but this 

 species has not been recognized in Georgian Bay. The yellow catfish (Ameiurus 

 natalis) is suggested by Jordan and Evermann ('96) as possibly the species referred 

 to by Richardson ('36) as Pimelodus coenosus, which was described from specimens 

 taken at Penetanguishene. This species may occur in the sedimentary swamps 

 or streams of the region, but has not been found northward. It is probable, 

 however, that the fish described by Richardson is A. lacustris. 



