318 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



2 in distance from occiput to origin of dorsal fin. Caudal peduncle 

 rather slender, its least depth 2| in head. Fins all long; in No. 100, 

 a female, they measure as follows: Pectoral 1 ; \ in head, reaching just 

 halfway to base of ventrals; ventrals a little shorter, 1£ in head; 

 dorsal high, its longest ray equal to length of pectoral; base of dorsal 

 fin short, 1£ in height of fin; base of anal fin about equal to that of 

 dorsal, longest ray 2 in head; caudal fin widely forked, the lobes 2f 

 times length of middle rays. 



The fins of No. 06, a male, measure as follows: Pectoral, 1^ in head, 

 reaching slightly more than half way to base of ventral; ventrals 

 scarcely shorter than the pectorals and just equaling length of longest 

 dorsal ray; length of dorsal base, If in height of fin; anal base shorter 

 than that of dorsal, about 1A in longest anal ray. 



Color in life: Dull bluish-green above; sides silvery, with minute 

 black specks; white below; tip of nose and mandible black; fins all 

 rich blue-black ; pale at base. In some specimens, usually females, the 

 fins are less black, the ventrals and anal sometimes showing scarcely 

 any black. The dorsal, caudal, and usually the pectorals, however, 

 are always more or less black. 



The specimens of this species which we have examined are from 13 

 to 16 inches in length and weighed, when fresh, from two-thirds of a 

 pound to 1.] pounds. 



Table of comparative measurements of specimens of olackfin whitefish (Argyrosomus 



nigripinnis) . 



mo 

 101 



102 

 103 

 104 

 105 

 106 

 43099 

 43100 



Lake where 

 taken. 



Michigan . 

 ...do.... 

 ....do.... 

 ....do.... 

 ....do.... 



do.... 



...do.... 

 ....do.... 



....do.... 



do.. 



do.. 



do .. 



do.. 



do.. 



do.. 



do.. 



do.. 



Miltona. 

 do.. 



Date 

 when 

 taken. 



Nov. 12 

 Nov. 12 



Nov. 12 

 Nov. 12 

 Nov. 12 

 Nov. 18 

 Nov. 18 

 Nov. 18 



Nov. 18 



Nov. 18 

 Nov. 18 

 Nov. 18 

 Nov. 18 

 Nov. 18 

 Nov. 18 

 Nov. 18 

 Nov. 18 



Sex and 

 condi- 

 tion. 



d ripe . 

 d ■ 



d 



d ripe . 



d ripe . . 

 d spent 

 d nearly 



ripe. 

 $ nearly 



ripe. 

 d ripe. 

 $ spent. 

 j spent. 

 5 spent. 

 ? spent. 

 d spent. 

 d spent. 

 9 spent. 



Oz. 

 10— 

 lO- 

 ll— 



11 + 

 19— 



15§ 20— 

 16i,21- 

 16$ 23- 



18- 



22 



21- 



15 



14- 



17+ 



15 + 



13+ 



15— 



4§4 



m 



4Hi 

 4J H 



4HH 

 45,4,1 



un 



4jS ... 

 4 4 

 4 4 



4.\ 3 



43 V. 



3+ 



3J 

 3 

 3 

 3J 



9-81-8 

 9-76-7 

 8-76-7 

 8-77-7 

 8-77-7 

 9-78-7 

 9-75-8 

 8-77-8 



9-75-8 



9-80 



9-76 

 9-75 

 8-78 



(iillrakers. 



Number. 



18+33; 

 17+32; 

 17433; 

 17+33; 



16 + 31: 

 18+32: 

 16+32: 



18+33 

 16+30 

 17+32 



18+35 

 ? +31 

 17-1-31 

 19 -|-34 

 17+32 



In 

 eye. 



17+34; 18+31 1 



17+31; 



17 + 32; 

 19+34; 

 18+32; 

 8-76-7117+33; 



8-76-7|17+32; 

 8-75-7118+33; 



17+31 

 17+33 

 19+34 

 17 + 32 

 17+33 

 17+32 

 18+35 



9-73-7!- 

 9-77-8' ■ 



18+30 

 17 + 31 



Range, habits, etc. — The blackfin or bluefiu whitefish was first brought 

 to public notice at the same time that Argyrosomus hoyi was discovered. 

 It was first collected in Lake Michigan, in deep water off llacine, Wis., 

 and first described by Mr. J. W. Milner in the Report of the Com- 



