FISHERIES AT CHICAGO AND VICINITY. 791 



water. At this time large numbers of them are caught by baiting books 

 with these flies. They are occasionally caught from the piers at other 

 times with a minnow for bait. 



Salnio naynaycush, Eich.; lake trout. — Commences running the middle 

 of April, as they are taken at that time with set-lines a short distance 

 out from shore, and a few are taken with a seine at Lake View about the 

 same time. They are taken on the set-lines several miles off" shore 

 through the seasou. They were quite rare in the pounds. 



Myxostonia macrolepidota (Les.) Jordan ; mullet. — During the first of 

 theseason they werenotcommou. After July 1 tbey were more plentiful, 

 there beiug on an average twenty-five specimens taken daily, some days 

 as many as fifty being taken. They are in good demand in the markets. 



Catostomus commersonii, (Lac.) Jor. — This and two or three other spe- 

 cies of suckers were taken in sparing numbers through the season. They 

 were most abundant with the eel pouts in the spring, sometimes there 

 being fifty pounds in the net at a time. 



Bubalichthys huhalus ; buffalo fish. — Rare. One taken the last of 

 May and two or three the first of July. 



Amiurus catus, Lin.; bullhead. — Sometimes taken with the hook along 

 the break-waters. 



Ichthfdurus punctatus, Eaf.; forked-tail cat. — Very rare. Two speci- 

 mens taken just before the net was removed in July. This species, with 

 Amiurus nigricans, is often taken on the set-lines farther out. 



Aniia ealva Lin. ; dog-fish. — Quite rare. Single specimens taken at 

 intervals. 



Lepidosteus osseous Lin. ; gar pike. — Rare ; sometimes taken on the 

 set-lines. 



Acipenser rubicundus Les. ; sturgeon.— Not common ; about a dozen 

 specimens taken in all the pounds during the season. Three was the 

 largest number taken in one day. A great many are taken with set- 

 lines about 15 miles off shore, principally in the fall and spring. This 

 mode of fishing is necessarily suspended during the months of July and 

 August, owing to the lack of bait, the minnows keeping out in deep 

 water and are too shy to be taken by the dip-nets. 



Petromyzon, Liu.; lamprey. — This fish is frequently taken with the 

 sturgeon . 



2.— SPECIES TAKEN AT SOUTH CHICAGO. 



Lota lacustris (Walb. ;) lawyer. — Taken in varying numbers through 

 the season. Very abundant in the spring. 



Maploidonotus grunniens Raf. ; sheep-head. — Much more abundant 

 than near Chicago. They commence running about the first of June, 

 and are taken in large numbers the remainder of the season. In July, 

 1873, a large run occurred, and in one day over 10,000 pounds were 

 taken. Since then, their numbers have decreased. There is no demand 

 for this fish in the market.* ♦ 



* This species, though condemned by many who have eaten it, has a demand grow- 

 ing for itj especially eastward. — J. W. M. 



