NATURAL HISTOKY, TORONTO REGION 



sometimes until they have attained a length of eight 

 inches. 



GANOIDEI. (Ganoid Fishes.) 



ACIPENSERIDAE. 



2. Lake Sturgeon. Rock Sturgeon. Acipenscr 

 rubicundus (Lesueur). The fishermen make a dis- 

 tinction between the young and the old of this species, 

 calling the former Rock Sturgeon and the older fish 

 Lake Sturgeon. There is, however, but one Stur- 

 geon in our waters; the difference in the size and 

 shape of the snout and in the number and development 

 of the spines between the immature fish and the adult 

 is sometimes very great, hence the idea that two 

 species are found. The Lake Sturgeon is found in 

 Lake Ontario, but rarely near Toronto. It is a food 

 fish of considerable commercial importance, its flesh 

 being used either fresh or dried and smoked. From 

 its roe the delicacy known as caviare is made. This 

 fish attains a large size, specimens six feet in length 

 and weighing one hundred pounds or more being not 

 uncommon. The spawning season extends from the 

 end of May to the beginning of July, during which 

 period the fish run from the lakes up the rivers for 

 a considerable distance for the purpose of depositing 

 their ova. 



AMIIDAE. (The Bowfins.) 



3. Dogfish. Bowfin. Mudfish. Amia calva 

 (Linn.). This fish is found in the weedy waters of 



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