The Tullibee 



the specimens of so-called blackfin or bluefin that we have seen 

 from that lake are the longjaw. The blackfin is probably the 

 most abundant fish of commercial importance in the deeper waters 

 of Lake Michigan. It occurs in schools, like other members of 

 the group, and is associated with the lake trout and other deep- 

 water species. 



The spawning season is the same as that of the common 

 whitefish in November to December. Then the fish come out 

 upon rocky bottom where the eggs are deposited. A favourite 

 resort for blackfin is said to be the Mudhole, a large depression 

 20 miles east of Sheboygan, in which the depth is about 90 

 feet. The principal method by which the blackfin is taken is in 

 the gillnets. It is regarded as a good food-fish. It reaches a 

 length of 1 8 inches, and a weight of one to 2 pounds. 



Head 4; depth 4; eye 4^; D. 12; A. 12; scales 9 or 10-73 

 to 77-7 or 8; vertebrae 57; gillrakers about 18+30, rather long 

 and slender, i| in eye or 2 in maxillary. Body stout, fusiform 

 and compressed; head and mouth large; lower jaw slightly pro- 

 jecting; the maxillary % greater than eye and reaching vertical of 

 front of pupil; distance from tip of snout to occiput about 3^ 

 in distance from snout to origin of dorsal fin; back not arched, 

 profile from occiput to origin of dorsal fin very gently curved; 

 eye rather large, longer than snout; teeth very feeble but appre- 

 ciable on the maxillaries and tongue. Colour, dark bluish above, 

 sides silvery, with dark punctulations; fins all blue-black. This 

 species attains a larger size than any of the other ciscoes, and 

 has a larger mouth than any other except the bloater. It may 

 be readily known by its black fins. 



Tullibee 



Argyrosmus tullibee (Richardson) 



This species was first described from Pine Island Lake, Cum- 

 berland House, British Columbia. It is now known from Lakes 

 Onondaga (New York), Erie, Superior and Michigan; also from 

 Lake of the Woods, Lake Winnipeg, Albany River, Qu' Appelle 

 River, and other waters northward. It has not been reported 

 from Lake Ontario or Lake Huron. 



The tullibee attains a length of 1 8 or 20 inches, and a weight 

 of 3\ pounds. It ranks high as a food-fish, but its commercial 

 importance is as yet limited. 



140 



