Chap. 5. 



FISHES OF VERMONT. 



135 



THE BLACK A N 1> l.ONG-NOSKD SUCKERS. 



THE DACE 



Ravs, Br. 3, P. 18, V. 10, D. 13, A. 6, 

 C. 18. 



History. — Tliis is generally known on 

 the west si de of the Grccu Aloiiutiiins by 

 the name of Sucker, or Black Sucker, 

 while another species is known by the 

 same names on tlie east side of the moun- 

 tains. This fish is quite common in lake 

 Champlain, and in most of the large 

 streams and ponds connected with it. 



THE BLACK SUCKER. 



Catastomns nigricans. — Le Sueur. 



Jour. Acad. Nat. Science, f — 102. Stoiei's Report, 

 Fislies of Mas.s., p. 8U. 



Description. — Color of the back black ; 

 sides reddish yellow with black blotches; 

 beneath white, with golden reflections ; 

 scales moderate in size ; head quadrangu- 

 lar, one fifth the length of the fish ; top 

 of the head of a deeper black than the 

 body ; eyes moderate, oblong ; pupils 

 black ; irides golden ; mouth large ; cor- 

 rugations of the lips very large, ])articu- 

 larly those of the lower lip; lateral line, 

 rising back of the operculum on a line op- 

 posite the centre of the eye, makes a very 

 slight curve downwards and then i)ursues 

 nearly a straight course to the tail, and 

 contains 6U scales ; back between the 

 head and dorsal fin rounded; pectoral, ven- 

 tral and anal fins reddish ; caudal and 

 dorsal blackish ; height of the dorsal equal 

 to two thirds its length ; third and fourth 

 rays of the anal reach the base of the 

 caudal. Length of the specimen from 

 which the description is drawn 15 inches. 



Rays, D. 13, P. 18, V. 9, A. 8, C. 18. 

 — Storer. 



History. — This I suppose to be the 

 common Sucker on the east side of the 

 Green Mountains in this state ; but not 

 having obtained any good specimen of it, 

 I have copied above Dr. Storers descrip- 

 tion, which was made from a specimen 

 obtained from Walpolo. They frequently 

 weigh 3 or 4 pounds, and exceed 20 inch- 

 es in length. 



THE LONG-jSOSED SUCKER. 



Catasf.omus longirostrum. — Le Sueur. 

 Journal Academy Nat. Sciences, Pliil., 1—102. 



Description. Body sub-cylindric, 



straight, delicate ; head flat ; ej^es large, 

 irides yellowish white ; aperture of the 

 mouth greatly arcuated, and large ; scales 

 very small and roundish : color of the 

 body above reddish, paler on the sides ; 

 abdomen white, with a bluish tint; later- 

 al line curved above the pectoral fin. 

 Dorsal fin deeper than broad, quadrangu- 

 lar ; the extremity of the anal fin does not 

 reach the base of the caudal ; head hori 



zontal, terminated in a long snout. Length 

 of the individual described 5 inches. 



Rays, P. ^G, V. 9, D. 12, A. 7, C. 18. 

 — Lc Sueur. 



IIiSTOuv. — "This fish I discovered," 

 says Le Sueur, " in the state of Vermont; 

 I have not seen it in any other state." 

 Not having met with this fish, 1 can only 

 give Le Sueur's account of it. 



Genus Leuciscus. — Klein. 



GeiiPj'ic Charartcrs. — The dorsal and anal 

 fins short and wiiiiuul slronn rays at the coiii- 

 ineiicement of cither ; no cirri. 



This genu.4 embraces lliose fishes which are 

 generally known in New Eng'and, by the naniea 

 of Dace, Chub and Shiner. 



THE COM. M ON DACE. 



Leuciscus pull hcllvs. — Storer. 



Storet's Report on Fishes of iMassacliusetts, p. 9], 



Description. — Upper part of the head 

 and tail blackish ; back approaching to 

 olive; sides lighter; belly white ; cheeks, 

 gill covers and lower fins more or less 

 ruddy ; scales striated, exhibiting a most 

 beautiful play of green, blue, golden and 

 silvery reflections. A dark colored mem- 

 brane visible at the junction of the scales, 

 giving the sides of the fish a reticulated 

 appearance; 49 scales on the lateral line, 

 which begins near the upper pait of the 

 oill-opening, bends rapidly downward 

 through 9 scales, and then pursues a 

 straight course to the tail. Head and 

 operculum smooth, the latter with cupre- 

 ous reflections. Scales rather large and 

 much crowded above the pectoral fins. 

 Eyes small, pupil black, surrounded by 

 a o-olden line which fades into gray on 

 the iris. Moutii large ; lips, tongue and 

 palate fleshy ; jaws toothless ; two patches 

 of i)ectinated teeth in the throat, with 

 four teeth in each. Ventral fins under 

 the front of the dorsal ; the anal fin twice 

 its length from the caudal ; the two first 

 rays short and closely applied to the third 

 in the dorsal and anal fin. Swimming 

 bladder in two sacks connected by a tube. 

 Length of the specimen before me 17 

 inches — from the snout to the posterior 

 part of the operculum 3^ — to tlie vent 9.^. 

 Total lenoth 4.Ji times the greatest depth. 



Rays, Br. 2,~\'. 16, V. 8, D. 10, A. 10, 

 C. 19. 



