Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 335 

 12. HOG-SUCKER 



HYPENTELIUM NIGRICANS (Le Sueur) 



(Plate 7) 



The Hog-sucker is abundant in swift and rocky streams from 

 New York to Minnesota and Kansas, Arkansas and the Carolinas. 

 Like all other well-known species of wide distribution, it has re- 

 ceived many different common names, among which are Stone- 

 roller, Stone-toter, Crawl-a-bottom, Hammerhead, Stone-lugger, 

 Boot-leg sucker, Spotted sucker, Black sucker and Hog-molly. 



The Hog-sucker is not at all common in Lake Maxinkuckee. 

 Six examples were seined July 18 near the Maxinkuckee pier, the 

 largest about 8 inches long, and another example 12.75 inches long, 

 was obtained later. A small one about 3 inches long was washed 

 up dead in front of the Fish Commission station April 1, 1901. 

 Mr. Gardner on the east side caught a specimen about August 16 

 from a pool by his house. In the autumn of 1907 one was fre- 

 quently seen in the Outlet just below the wagon bridge, and one 

 was seen near shore along the south edge of Outlet Bay. 



This fish is not a lake species, but one which prefers clear 

 pebbly streams, such as the Tippecanoe. Its occurrence in any 

 abundance in Lake Maxinkuckee would, therefore, hardly be ex- 

 pected. It is present in some abundance in the Outlet; on April 

 2, 1901, a trip was taken about a mile down the Outlet and 9 

 examples, each about a foot long, were seen in a pile on the shore 

 with spear marks on them. In a trip down the Outlet in the 

 autumn of 1907 (September 30) a good many were seen. On 

 August 9, 1906, 2 examples about 9 inches long were seined in 

 Yellow River. The stomachs were examined and found full of 

 mud and a few bits of insect fragments. 



The Hog-molly can often be seen lying motionless at the bot- 

 tom of clear, rather swift brooks, the black stripes across its back 

 showing distinctly at a distance. In general coloration it resembles 

 a pebbly bottom considerably and this frequently makes it difficult 

 to see. In its general aspect, while in this position it resembles 

 somewhat a large darter or a miller's thumb. It cannot usually be 

 induced to bite, though a hook baited with a tempting morsel be let 

 down to its very nose. It probably lives chiefly on insect larvaB 

 and such microscopic organisms as it can suck up from the bottom. 



This sucker reaches a length of about 2 feet. Although not ex- 

 tensively used as food its flesh is firm and flaky and possesses a 

 flavor peculiarly sweet and agreeable. The chief objection is the 

 abundance of small fagot bones. 



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