Toothed Herring ; La Queche 



Toothed Herring ; La Queche 



Hiodon alosoides (Rafinesque) 



This fish is found in the upper Mississippi Valley and north- 

 ward, and is most common northwestward. It prefers the lakes 

 and larger streams. It is a beautiful, attractive fish, reaching a 

 length of 8 to 12 inches. 



This and the next species, while of little value as food, are 

 of considerable interest to the anglers of the upper Mississippi 

 Valley states. They are eager biters and take indiscriminately 

 the feathered ^ures, small spoons, grasshoppers, grubs and other 

 natural bait. 



According to Mr. W. C. Harris, they rise freely to the arti- 

 ficial fly in the early spring months, but seem to disregard it as 

 warm weather approaches, at which time they favour the grass- 

 hopper above all other lures. In middle Canada they are said to 

 take the fly in the latter part of August, and anglers of that 

 section prize highly the sport of casting for them. In these 

 waters this fish is said to leap, when hooked, repeatedly in the air. 



Head 4^-5 depth 3^; D. 9; A. 32; scales 6-56-7. Body 

 closely compressed, becoming deep in the adult, the ventral edge 

 everywhere carinated; maxillary reaching beyond middle of eye; 

 caudal peduncle rather stouter than in the next species, and the fin 

 not so deeply forked; back less arched and snout blunter than 

 in the other species, the mouth larger and more oblique, the pec- 

 torals and the ventrals shorter. Colour, bluish above, sides sil- 

 very, with golden lustre. 



