THE FISHES OF GEORGIAN BAY 15 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 39b 



Though rarely seen in the daytime at other periods, the catfish are conspicuous 

 objects in the swamps during the spawning season. The time of spawning varies 

 greatly, but begins during the latter part of June and extends well into July. The 

 nests are constructed in shallow water, often only two or three feet from the shore. 

 In this region the fish do not make open nests as in other places, but burrow under 

 flag roots or submerged sticks. The burrows are about eighteen inches or two 

 feet in length, and the terminal chamber has a clean hard bottom on which the egg 

 mass rests. The nests are chiefly made by the males, but sometimes both males 

 and females participate in the construction. After depositing the eggs the female 

 usually leaves the nest, the latter being then guarded by the male. As a rule 

 he lies wholly concealed in the burrow and probably in the terminal chamber 

 with the eggs, but darts forth when the bottom is disturbed. The eggs are hatched 

 in a few days, and the fry gradually work their way to the outside of the burrow. 

 Though at first unpigmented, they soon acquhe a dense black coloration. For 

 some time they move about in large schools, accompanied by the male, feeding 

 on microscopic organisms, but later they are abandoned by the parent fish and 

 disperse, working downwards among the bottom vegetation. 



Family Catostomidae. 



(Suckers and mullets) 



Represented by two genera, separable as follows: — 



a. Air-bladder divided into three compartments. Scales in lateral line less than 

 50 Moxostoma 



aa. Air-bladder divided into two compartments. Scales in lateral line more than 

 50 Catostomus 



Genus Moxostoma. 



Moxostoma anisurum, Rafinesque. 



(White-nosed sucker) 



Occasionally taken in gill-nets in the southern part of the bay; more abundant 

 towards fall. Not seen inshore in the region of Go Home Bay during the spring 

 or summer. Many specimens were seen taken in the pound-nets at Killarney 

 and Spanish River on the north shore. The following description is based on a 

 single specimen, the only one thus far received for examination. 



Length 15 inches (the size commonly much greater). Body heavy forwards, 

 but moderately deep and compressed. Depth 3-2. Head short and broad, 

 its length 3 • 8. Snout blunt ; mouth inferior, the lips plicate, but with the folds 

 slightly broken into papillae. Eye 5-9. General coloration pale yellowish, darker 

 above. Under parts and snout whitish. Dorsal fin with 16 raya. Anal with 8 

 rays. Scales large and coarse, 7, 44, 5. 



