THE WHITEFISHES OF NORTH AMERICA. 317 



only slight. It is most highly esteemed on Lake Ontario, where it often 

 brings the same price as the common species; elsewhere it yields the 

 fisherman several cents a pound less than (J. clupciformis. Mr. Charles 

 H. Strowger, an experienced fisherman and careful observer, residing 

 on the shores of Lake Ontario, gives the following estimate of the food 

 value of this fish : 



When properly cared for on being caught, this is a delicious iisli. When salted it 

 keeps well, and does not lose its freshness when cooked. A great deal of prejudice 

 against the longjaw is entertained because of the soft and damaged condition in which 

 the fish is usually sold to the consumers. It is a fish that ought to be iced as soon as 

 it is taken from the water and left cold until used, as it easily softens and on cooking 

 becomes too greasy for ordinary human palates to enjoy. When fresh caught it is 

 equal, in my judgment, to any fish for delicacy of flavor. It is a splendid fish for 

 baking when of full size, but small-sized fish are always of less value and should 

 not be caught. 



Spmcning. — Very little is certainly known regarding the spawning- 

 habits of the longjaw. Examples taken by Mr. Charles II. Strowger 

 in Lake Ontario, May 17, 1892, had immature spawn except in one fish, 

 in which the eggs were fully ripe. Specimens sent us from the same 

 lake in April, by Mr. John S. Wilson, contained very immature spawn; 

 while other specimens forwarded by Mr. George M. Schwartz of Eoches- 

 ter, on June 13, 1892, had fully matured spawn. Mr. Strowger's obser- 

 vations lead him to believe that this species has a prolonged spawning 

 period, extending perhaps over the entire year. Specimens examined 

 by us on Grenadier Island June 28, 1891, were ripe, and others exam- 

 ined at various times in June and July were nearly or wholly ripe. 

 From these facts it is certain that many of this species spawn in Lake 

 Ontario in the summer. Some of the specimens obtained by Dr. Sco- 

 vell in Lake Huron in July were also ripe, while others were not. The 

 probabilities are that Mr. Strowger's view is right, and that while the 

 summer is the principal spawning time, the season is prolonged until 

 late in the fall. Little is known of the location of the spawning-beds, 

 but all the evidence indicates that they are in relatively deep water. 



16. Argyrosomus nigripinnis Gill. 

 Blackfin; Blackfin Whitefish; Bluefin; Bluefin Whitefish. 



Argyrosomus nigripinnis (Gill MS.) Milner, Kept. 1". S. Fish Comm. 1872-73 (1874), 

 87, Lake Michigan, off Kacine, Wis. 



Description. — Head, li to If; depth, 1 to li; eye, 4£ to 4£; snout, 1 

 to 5; mandible, 2 to 2£; maxillary, 3 to 3f. D. 10 or 11 (rarely 9); A. 

 11 or 12. Scales, 8 or 9-75 to 81-7 or 8. Vertebrae, 58; gillrakers 

 usually 17-4-33=50, long and slender, about 1J- in eye. 



Body moderately stout, ventral outline more curved than the dorsal. 

 Head large, pointed; mouth large; maxillary long and narrow, reach- 

 ing middle of pupil, the supplemental maxillary long, narrowed above; 

 mandible very long, usually reaching vertical of posterior rim of orbit; 

 lower jaw usually projecting. Distance from snout to occiput about 



