THREE NEW WHITEFISHES tit BEAR LAKE, IDAHO AND 
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By JOHN OTTERBEIN SNYDER. 
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INTRODUCTION. 
It is the purpose of this paper to direct attention to some little known but very 
important food fishes in Bear Lake, Idaho and Utah. Aside from their value as food, 
these fishes are of interest to ichthyologists, as they belong to previously unknown forms 
that have managed to survive as representatives of an ancient quaternary fauna, which 
was no doubt composed of numerous species of relatively wide distribution. At present 
they are confined to a single small lake, and they therefore remind us of the animals of 
certain oceanic islands which have been preserved under favorable conditions, while 
others of their kind less favored have long since passed away. 
Bear Lake is a part of the drainage system of Great Salt Lake, the connection being 
through Bear River, which has its origin among the mountains of the eastern slopes of 
the Wasatch Ranges. Through the channel of its outlet, Bear Lake was at one time 
connected with the quaternary Lake Bonneville, the shore lines of which are still plainly 
traced along the sides of the bordering mountains. The outlet of Lake Bonneville carried 
its overflow into Snake River, and thus Bear Lake was for a time a part of the Columbia 
River system. 
In the course of an investigation of the food fishes of the Great Salt Lake system, 
under the authority of the United States Bureau of Fisheries, the writer was attracted 
to Bear Lake principally because deep-water fishes were reported there. The lake, 
roughly estimated, measures about 9 by 25 miles in extent. It is deep and clear, the 
limpid water, always rich in reflected colors, reminding one of Lake Tahoe, although 
Bear Lake lacks to a degree the wonderful setting of mountains characteristic of the 
latter. Bear Lake and Bear River were found to contain most of the fishes indigenous 
to the Great Salt Lake system, and in addition three whitefishes of species heretofore 
undescribed. One of these belongs to Leucichthys, a genus not previously known to 
be represented in the West. This is a small fish, measuring about 7 ¥Y% inches when mature. 
The others are species of Coregonus, which is represented also by C. williamsoni, a common 
fish of the streams. Of these, Coregonus spilonotus grows to large size, while the other, 
commonly known as the herring, is much smaller. They are excellent food fishes, and 
have long been known to ranchers near the lake, where they are taken in considerable 
numbers. Because of the limited supply, these fishes contribute to the local demand 
only. The writer has reason to believe, however, that they are of relatively great poten- 
tial value, especially in the West, where there are many deep alpine lakes. These lakes 
are not known to contain similar fishes, and it is probable that the best of these might be 
introduced without seriously disturbing the native species.? As the introduction of 
@ Nothingis known of the habits, distribution, or abundance of Bear Lake whitefishes except that which is now recorded. 
Their life history should be carefully investigated before an attempt is made to introduce them elsewhere, and their artificial 
distribution should be preceded by experimental work to safeguard the possibility that their presence in a new locality may be 
detrimental to valuable native species. 
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