FAMILY SALMONID^. 247 



GENUS COREGONUS. Cmicr. 



Mouth slightly deft. Teeth exceedingly minute, or wanting. Scales large. Base of the 

 dorsal less than the length of its anterior rays. Numerous caca. 



THE WHITE-FISH. 



CoREGONUa ALBUS. 



PLATE LX. FIO. 198. 



Whilcfisli, Coregotms albus. Lesueoe, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sciences, Vol. 1, p. 231, extra plate. 

 The Aililiawmeg, Salrm (Corcgonus) albus. Richardson, Faun. Bor. .\m. Vol. 3, p. 195, pi. 83. 



Characteristics. Bluish grey on the back, hghter on the sides, and white on the belly. Jaws 

 and tongue with asperities; vomer and palate smooth. Length 18-20 

 inches. 



Description. Body elongated, subcylindrical, somewhat compressed, slightlv elevated be- 

 fore the dorsal fin. Head one-fiftli of the total lenglli, smooth, and flattened above. Scales 

 large, orbicular, thin and deciduous. About eighty scales in the course of the lateral line, 

 and twenty in an obhque series from the dorsal ; numerous small ones ascend on the base of 

 the caudal. Lateral line slightly arched, nearly straight. Eyes large, and nearly two diameters 

 distant from the end of the snout. Tip of the snout blunt. Mouth small. Teeth scarcely 

 perceptible to the touch. Pharyn.x: smooth. Branchial arclies with a row of bristles. 



The dorsal fin two inches and a half high, and one and six-tenths along its base ; the first 

 three closely applied to the fourth, which together with the fiftli is longest. Adipose broad 

 at the base, where it is surrounded by small scales. Pectorals pointed, three inches long, 

 the third and fourth longest, the lower rays very slender. Ventrals broad, arise under the 

 tenth ray of the dorsal, and their tips reach to within 0'8 of the anal. The anal fin higher 

 than long, shaped like the dorsal, and ending a short distance behind the adipose fin. Caudal 

 forked. 



Color. Greyish blue above, lighter on the sides ; in certain lights, there is a play of colors 

 on the sides. 



Length, 17-0; of the head, .3-0. 



Fmrays, D. 13.0; P. 17; V. 12; A. 13; C. 19 |. 



This is the celebrated White-fish of the lakes, which is most abundant in Lake Huron, but 

 is occasionally found in Lake Erie. It was named by Lesueur, but its first accurate dcscriber 

 was Richardson, whose plate I have copied. The brief notice given by Lesueur will apply 

 to any and all the species. It is often salted and sent to the New- York market, where it is 

 sold for eight cents per pound. It occurs as high as 72° north latitude. 



