404 FISHEKIES OF THE UNITED STATES. [18] 



Clupea mediocris. Pogonichthys macrolepidotus. 



sapidissima. Mylochilus caurinus. 



Ictiobus bubalus. Mylopharodon conocephalus. 



Bubalichthys urus. Ptychochilus oregonensis. 



Garpiodes cyprinus. Squalius atrarius. 

 Cycleptus elongatus. gibbosus. 



Catostomus tahoensis. Cyprinus carpio. 



commersonii. Carassius auratus. 



Chasmistes Moms. Leptops olivaris. 



Minytrema melanops. Amiurus catus. 



Moxostoma macrolepidotum. Ictalurus punctatus. 



duquesnii. Angullla rostrata. 



Geratichthys biguttatus. Acipenser rubicundus. 

 Semotilus corporalis. 



9 



A glance at the list will show that a small number of families furnish 

 nearly all our food-fishes. They are as follows : Centrarchidce, Percidce, 

 Labracidce, Esocidce, Umbridce, Salmonidm, Clupeidw, Catostomidce, Gypri- 

 nidce, Siluridce, Anguillidce, and Acipenseridce. As would be expected, the 

 Labracidce, Esocidce, Salmonidce, and Glupeidce have the greatest commer- 

 cial value. A singular fact is the importance of a species belonging to 

 the family Umbridw, which otherwise includes only a few worthless little 

 species, known as mud-minnows, or mud-fish, and the Austrian dog-fish. 

 An interesting account of the qualities of the edible species in question 

 is given by Professor Nordenskjold in the Narrative of the Yega Ex- 

 pedition. Mr. E. W. Nelson also has prepared a paper on the " Black- 

 fish" {Pallia pectoralis) in Northern Alaska, in which he sets forth its 

 great value to the natives. This contribution will appear in the Fisher- 

 ies Report now being printed by the United States Fish Commission. 



It is remarkable that no cyprinoid fish has yet been recorded from 

 Alaska ; one would certainly expect to find Platygobio, Ptychochilus, 

 Acrochilus, Mylochilus, and Bichardsonius. We must bear in mind, how- 

 ever, that inland exploration has not been extensive in that Territory, 

 and many large bodies of fresh water have never been properly inves- 

 tigated. 



