586 REPORT OP COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



bullhead is at present the most important commercial fish, larger amounts of it than 

 of any other species being handled. The local fishermen say that they run from i to 

 1^ pounds dressed, which is probably an overestimate. Mr. Joseph Laundrie, of 

 Rouses Point, says that it takes 500 to 600 dressed fish to make a barrel and that 

 they sell for 6 cents a pound. They can be caught on mud bottom. According to 

 Mr. Eli Cameron, of Rouses Point, the bullheads spawn in July. In the fall they 

 "mud up" or bury themselves more or less. According to Mr. J. W. Titcomb the 

 grass along the shores of some of the waters in the State is mown in the spring to 

 allow seines to be hauled for bullheads. In Lake Memphremagog the bullhead is 

 one of the most abundant species. Our collections contain two examples, 4 and 4£ 

 inches long, respectively, from Clyde River at Newport, and one small specimen from 

 Missisquoi Bay. The collection received from Mr. Collins contained two examples 

 of this species, one lOi inches long and weighing one-half pound, the other 11$ 

 inches long and weighing three-fourths pound. The stomachs contained nothing 

 identifiable. 



Family CATOSTOMIDiE. The Suckers. 



9. Carpiodes thompsoni Agassiz. Lake Carp; "Buffalo"; "Carp Sucker": "Drum." 

 Lake Champlain is the type locality of this species. Thompson says it ranges from 



I to 4 pounds in weight, but it is not common. It is still taken by the local fisher- 

 men in some numbers. Among the fishes kindly sent us by Mr. Collins is a fine 

 example of this species which he calls " drum." It is a nearly ripe female, 21 inches 

 long and weighing 7 pounds. The roe alone weighed 2J pounds. 



The condition of this fish indicates that the spawning period begins as early as the 

 last of April. The stomach contained nothing. 



10. Catostomus catostomus (Forster). Long '-nosed Sucker, "Sucker." 



This sucker was found by us in abundance in Sleeper River It is doubtless a 

 common species throughout the State, but Thompson states that he never met with 

 it. On the other hand, LeSueur, in describing C. longirostrum, which he took to be 

 different from this species, says: "This fish I discovered in the State of Vermont. 

 I had not seen it in any other State." 



11. Catostomus commersonii (Lacdpede). Common Sucker; "Sucker"; "Black 

 Sucker"; "Black-fin Sucker." 



Said by Thompson to be quite common in Lake Champlain and in most of the 

 large streams and ponds connected with it. Specimens were obtained by us in 

 Passumpsic River near St. Johnsbury and in Clyde River and Lake Memphremagog 

 near Newport. Two large examples were taken in a gill net at the Miles's clubhouse, 

 Lake Memphremagog, July 24. A nearly ripe female, 18 inches long and weighing 3 

 pounds, received from Missisquoi Bay April 25. This fish would have spawned early 

 in May. The stomach contained nothing. 



In Shelburn Pond, a sucker, probably this species, is said to be very abundant. 



12. Catostomus nigricans LeSueur. Black Sucker. 



This species Thompson supposes to be common on the east side of the Green Moun- 

 tains. It was seen by us only in Sleeper River at St. Johusbury. 



13. Moxostoma aureolum (LeSueur). Bedhorse Sucker; "Mullet." 



This is the common mullet or large-scaled sucker of Vermont, and seems to be 

 common in Lake Champlain. It is one of the principal species taken in gill nets by 

 the fishermen of Lake Champlain. It is said to be quite abundant in Missisquoi 

 Bay. Our collections contain two large examples taken there in a seine July 20, and 

 two large examples were received April 25 from Missisquoi Bay. One was a nearly 

 ripe male 15 inches long and weighing \l pounds, the other a nearly ripe female 25i 

 inches long and weighing 7^ pounds. They probably would have spawned in two or 

 three weeks. The stomachs were empty. Mr. Collins called the smaller of these a 

 "redfin sucker," the other a "mullet.'"' 



