500 AMERICAN FISHES. 
There is another fish having a great superficial resemblance to the Lake 
Herrings, but reaching a much larger size, possessed of very different teeth, 
and not occurring in the main portion of the United States, although found 
in Eastern Alaska. It was discovered during the first expedition of Franklin 
to the shores of the “ Polar Sea” in 1819-22, and the voyageurs attached to 
the party pronounced it “ inconnu” — unknown — and that name Inconnu 
it has carried ever since. Richardson named the species at first (in 1823) 
Salmo mackenzii, and later Stenodus mackenzii, after the river in which it 
occurs. It has since been found to be very closely related to the ‘‘Nelma” 
or “Siberian White Salmon.” Although so similar in appearance to a Lake 
Herring, the dentition is strikingly different and far from being toothless, 
the upper and lower jaws in front as well as the vomer, palate and tongue 
are covered with bands of fine teeth “ crowded like velvet pile.” It preys 
upon other fishes. The Inconnu, “according to Indian information, is an 
anadromous species, and is only known to exist in the Mackenzie and its 
tributaries to which it can have access from the sea.” It occasionally 
attains a weight of 40 pounds or perhaps more, but those usually taken vary 
from 5 to15 pounds. It furnishes an important contribution to the food 
supply of the Mackenzie basin. Opinions differ as to its gustatory value. 
According to Richardson, “ its flesh is white, and when in good condition 
tolerably palatable, though rather soft and oily, and soon becoming dis- 
agreeable when used as daily food; it is firmest and best near the mouth 
of the Mackenzie, and when out of season is considered by the natives to 
be very unwholesome.” 
The belief that the Inconnu only exists in the Mackenzie River and its 
tributaries is undoubtedly erroneous. Mr. J. F. Pratt, who conducted a 
coast survey to the Yukon River in 1902, has informed the editor that a 
fish called “ Whitefish,” but which was evidently the Inconnu, was found 
in abundance in the lower part of the river when he was surveying, and 
an individual weighing as much as forty pounds was obtained. They were 
caught in nets. The flesh was white when fresh, but turned to yellowish 
when cooked ; it was coarse and almost tasteless, and was only eaten in 
lieu of better fish. The occurrence of the species in the Yukon has been 
corroborated by the inspection of specimens in the United States National 
Museum from Nulato and elsewhere. 
The Inconnu may become of considerable importance on the discovery of 
mines or “diggings ” near the rivers in which it occurs. 
Mr. Warburton Pike, in “ The Barren Ground of Northern Canada ” (1892, 
p. 27), found the Inconnu in the Great Slave Lake at the most westerly 
