FISHES OF MINNESOTA 43 



to a saw edged ridge. Head small and sealeless; mouth small and 

 inferior; snout projecting beyond and overhanging the mouth; 

 maxillary bones not prominent; premaxillaries not protractile. 

 Gill rakers numerous and slender; gill membranes free from the 

 isthmus; branchiostegal rays about 6; pseudobranchia well devel- 

 oped. Stomach gizzard-like; a fatty eyelid. One genus and one 

 species represented in the state. 



Genus DOllOSOMA Eafinesque. 



Dorosoma cepediauum (Le Sneur) Hickory Shad. 



Color silvery, the upper parts bluish; a dark spot on the shoul- 

 ders in small specimens. Body compressed; back elevated. Head 

 contained 4^ times in the length. Depth 2h Eye 4^ in the head. 

 Dorsal fin with 12 rays, its first ray developed in a long filament. 

 Anal 31. Scales 56-23; no lateral lines present. Caudal fin con- 

 siderably forked, the lower lobe the longer. Length 15 inches. 



Common in the southern part of the state, no doubt. Specimens 

 have been recorded from the Minnesota River at Mankato, where 

 it is quite common. Many large ones were taken in the river here 

 just as the ice broke up in the spring of 1892. Fishermen stated 

 that it was the first time these fish had been seen in several years. 

 Since that time many small and occasionally large specimens have 

 been taken. 



Family SALMONIDJ:. The Salmon. 



Body rather long; head sealeless; mouth varying much in size; 

 scales cycloid; maxillaries pretty well developed, forming a part 

 of the upper jaw; upper jaw not protractile; teeth variable. A 

 slit behind the fourth gill; pseudobranchia developed; gill mem- 

 branes not joined to the isthmus; branchiostegal rays 10 to 20; no 

 barbels present. An adipose fin always present; caudal fin forked; 

 pectoral fins inserted near the lower edge of the body. Air-bladder 

 large. Many pyloric c^eca present. 



This is one of the important families of fishes in our state and, 

 at present, it is known to be represented by four genera and seven 

 species, all of which are valuable food fishes. 



