44 FISHES OF ILLINOIS 



Some years ago it was much more abundant than now in the Mis- 

 sissippi and the Ohio, as many as a thousand pounds at a time 

 having been caught, according to Mr. Ashlock, from the former 

 river near Alton and the latter at Cairo. This species ranges 

 from the Ohio through the Great Lake region to the Saskatch- 

 ewan, becoming especially abundant in Manitoba and other 

 parts of British America. Our nine collections came from the 

 Illinois River at Meredosia and Havana, excepting one, which 

 was from the Ohio at Cairo. It is found only in our largest 

 streams, and is commonest in rather swift open water. It is 

 readily caught when plentiful by minnow bait, and is a very 

 gamy fish, although of little value as food. It lives mainly on 

 both terrestrial and aquatic insects, mollusks, and small min- 

 nows. It is said by Illinois fishermen to be frequently seen pur- 

 suing its minnow prey at evening in the vicinity of their boats. 



HIODON TERGISUS LE SUEUR 

 TOOTHED HERRING; MOONEYE 



Le Sueur, 1818, J. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila., I, 366. 



G., VII, 375 (Hyodon); J. & G. ( 260 (Hyodon); M. V., 69; J. & E., I, 413; N. 44 

 (Hyodon); J., 54 (Hyodon); F., 74 (Hyodon); F. F., I. 2. 79, II. 7, 440; L,., 20. 



Length 10 or 12 inches; body somewhat less com- 

 pressed than in the last species, greatest width not 

 over 2^ in depth; depth in length 3 to 3.3; depth caudal 

 peduncle 1.4 in its length. Color pale olive-buff above 

 with faint steel-blue luster; sides silvery, lustrous, 

 white at the ventral edge. Head 4 to 4.4 in lengtji; 

 width head 2 to 2.1 ; interorbital space 3.9 to 4; eye 

 "^^^^ 2.8 to 3.6 in head; nose 4. to 5.5; mouth slightly smaller 

 FIG. 12 than in the last, maxillary falling short of middle of 



orbit, 2.1 to 2.5 in head. Dorsal fin with 11 or 12 

 developed rays, inserted in front of anal. Scales 5 or 6, 55, 7; lateral line 

 complete. 



The toothed herring a name given this species by way of 

 contrast with the " thread-herring " or gizzard-shad (Dorospma) 

 has been taken by us only some half dozen times in Illinois, 

 and then only in the Rock and Illinois rivers. It ranges from 

 the Ohio River north and west to the Lake of the Woods, the 

 Assiniboin, and the Saskatchewan. It is very abundant in 

 Lake Erie and the Ohio, where large numbers are sometimes 

 caught with the seine. It feeds on insects and their larvae, 

 mollusks, and small minnows. It is a vigorous biter, and gamy 



