54 CHECK LIST OF THE 



The Gold Shad has made its way into the Great Lakes through canals 

 from the Ohio and Mississippi Valleys, where it is abundant. 



Unlike most of its tribe, this is a predaceous hsh, feeding largely 

 upon small fry. It may be readily captured with minnow bait, but as a food 

 fish it is not esteemed. 



(hi) Gaspereau. Alewife. 



(Pomolobus pseudoharengus.) 



Body deep and heavy forward, much compressed. Head short, nearly 

 as deep as long; eye large, deeper than long. Maxillary broad; upper jaw 

 emarginate, lower jaw slightly projecting. Anal low ; caudal deeply forked, 

 partially scaled near base. Scales, 15-50 to 54. D., 16; A., 17 to 19. 



Colour, above bluish ; silvery on sides ; a black spot behind head. On 

 large specimens there are faint dusky lines along the rows of scales. 



Length, about ten inches, or rather more ; in Lake Ontario, however, 

 they rarely exceed eight inches in length. 



This fish is said to have been introduced into Lake Ontario in 1873 

 by mistake, the intention having been to stock the water with shad. 

 Whether this is correct or not, the Gaspereau is now lirmly established 

 here, and in spite of the vast numbers which die every summer, it seems 

 to be increasing. From early in March until early in November they are 

 to be found near the shores of Lake Ontario and in the St. Lawrence, but 

 are at the height of their abundance during June and July, and it is during 

 these months that the great mortality takes place, millions of dead fish 

 being cast up on the shore and the surface of the water being liberally 

 strewed with the dead and dying. Where they go in the cold months of 

 winter is uncertain, probably only into the deep water of the lake, though 

 it is possible that they may work their way down to the Gulf of St. Law- 

 rence. 



They are eatable, but being small and bony are not much appreciated. 



Genus ALOSA. (The Shad.) 



Body deep, compressed, deeper than in related American genera ; the 

 head also deep; the free portion of the cheeks deeper than long; jaws 

 wholly toothless (except in young) ; upper jaw with a sharp, deep notch 

 at tip, the premaxillaries meeting at a very acute angle. 



(62) Shad. 



(Alosa sapidissima.) 



Body deep ; mouth large, with the jaws about equal ; gill rakers very 

 long and slender. In the female the dorsal originates a little in front of 

 the middle of the length, in the male somewhat farther in front. The 

 dorsal of the male is rather higher than that of the female, while the body 

 is not so deep. Scales, 16-60 to 65. The dorsal has thirteen divided rays 

 ;ind four simple, and the anal nineteen divided and three simple. 



