26 FISHES OF THE YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK. 



12. LOXOXOSE SUCKER (Catostomus catostomus) . 



This sucker is of wide natural distribution in northern waters, its 

 geographical range being from the Pacific to the Atlantic coasts and 

 into the Arctic regions. 



It attains a weight of several pounds. Its spawning time is in the 

 spring and early summer, when the males have their anal fin profusely 

 tuberculate and the side of the body with a broad red stripe more or 

 less diffuse on the edges. It is not sought as a game fish but some- 

 tunes takes a baited hook and fights fairly well. 



When taken from cool water and cooked at once it is a good- 

 flavored panfish, although somewhat bony. 



It is abundant in Yellowstone and Gardiner Rivers below the 

 Osprey, Undine, and Rustic Falls, and reaches a length of 18 inches. 



13. ROSYSIDE SUCKER (Catostomus ardens). 



This : sucker is abundant in the Snake River Basin above Shoshone 

 Falls, where it attains a length of 18 inches or more. It has been 

 reported from Heart Lake and Witch Creek and is said to ascend 

 the latter into very warm water. Like the longnose sucker, it 

 spawns in spring or early summer. It will also take a baited hook, 

 and is edible but not as palatable as the other sucker. 



In Heart Lake and Witch Creek the alimentary tract of the sucker 

 is infested by parasitic worms, which, although offensive to the eye, 

 do not render the fish harmful as food. Affected fish, however, are 

 likely to be lean and unpalatable. 



14. CHUB (Leuciscus lineatus). 



This chub, known in the books as Utah Lake chub, is one of the 

 most widely distributed of the genus and abounds in the Snake River 

 Basin above Shoshone Falls; also in Yellowstone Lake and other 

 places in the park. 



Chubs from cool water are not to be despised in game and food 

 qualities. This species reaches a length of 12 or 15 inches or more 

 and is said to be destructive to the eggs and young of trout. No 

 worms have been found in the alimentary canal of this fish. It 

 spawns in spring and early summer. 



Dr. Jordan says: "Chubs ascend Witch Creek until they reach 

 water fairly to be called hot, and the sucker is not far behind/' 

 enduring a temperature of 88 F. 



