62 



BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



There are 4 pharj-ngeal teeth on the right side ; 5 on the left. Occasionally there are only 4 on tlie 

 left, and sometimes there are 5 on both sides, in which case the supernumerary is slender and frail. The 

 teeth are large, slightly hooked; a narrow grinding surface present. The posterior limb of the arch is 

 equal to the anterior, or even larger, thus contrasting with that of L. pectinifer, which is much shorter 

 than the anterior. 



The peritoneum is dusky in color, but not black. The alimentary canal is about equal in length to 

 the entire length of the specimen. The air bladder extends the length of the abdominal cavity. 



In life the color is deep olive above , lighter on the sides, white below ; upper parts and sides with a 

 very pronounced brassy reflection. Some of the scales are darker than the others; some are pinkish. 

 Fins olive, with a little red. In some examples the belly is suffused with yellow and the fins are strongly 

 tinged with red. Others are more green than olive, and some have the dark lateral color extending 

 almost to the ventral surface. The pink and yellow tints are more prominent during the breeding 

 season. The green is more pronounced in lake specimens. In an occasional individual a faint pinkish 

 stripe may be detected along the side, its outline and extent being very indefinite. In the rivers the 

 general color is sometimes lighter. Young specimens have a narrow dark stripe along the lateral line. 



On May 24 this species had begun to spawn in Pyramid Lake, at least the eggs were then ripe, and 

 the milt flowed from the males when they were touched. Small and medium sized examples caught 

 in Lake Tahoe June 15 were not yet ready to spawn. 



Large individuals (12 to 14 inches) do not appear to come near shore, at least during the daytime. 

 During the summer they may be secured with a small spinner trolled at a depth of 20 feet or more. 

 They bite readily when the hook is baited with angleworms. When still fishing, specimens were caught 

 only at a long distance from the boat and at a depth of about 20 feet. A line so rigged that the bait would 

 settle 20 feet below the surface, and cast out from shore where the bottom shelved off very rapidly, 

 would generally secure specimens. Many smaller ones were taken in the seine and gill nets near shore 

 along with L. pectinifer. Nets set at night were sure to be full of fishes in the morning. 



Large schools of lake chubs gather about the wharves, fallen trees, and other sheltered places. At 

 the mouth of Fallen Leaf Creek, Lake Tahoe, at times the rising water slowly spreads out over the 

 meadows, and when covering the ground but a few inches is invaded by great schools of tliis species. 

 After sundown they appear in countless numbers, thrashing about in the grass and rushes. When 

 approached they either scurry off in great haste, sometimes diving into a bunch of grass, or settle down 

 perfectly still. On the approach of daylight they return to deeper water. Dissection showed that they 

 were probably feeding, certainly not spawning. Algae, bits of plants, and fragments of insects were 

 found in tlieir stomachs. 



Lake chubs when prepared for the table were found to be sweet and very palatable. They have at 

 times been salted and sold in the markets as "whitefish." They contribute to the food of the larger 

 trout and also to that of the water birds. 



