The Mooneye 



Mooneye 



Hiodon lergisus Le Sueur 



This fish closely resembles the toothed herring, from which 

 it may best be distinguished by its larger dorsal fin and in 

 having the belly in front of the ventrals not carinated. 



The mooneye reaches a length of a foot or more, and is 

 found throughout the Mississippi Valley, the Great Lakes region 

 and northwestward at least to the Assiniboine River. It is usu- 

 ally common in the larger streams and lakes, and is a very 

 handsome fish, not valued as food, the flesh being dry and full 

 of small bones. As a game-fish it does not differ materially 

 from the toothed herring. 



Head 4|; depth 3; eye 3; D. 12; A. 28; scales 5-SS-7. 

 Body oblong, moderately compressed; eye large, the maxillary 

 barely reaching its middle; pectoral fin not reaching ventrals; the 

 latter scarcely reaching vent; belly behind ventrals somewhat 

 carinated, but not in front. Colour, brilliantly silvery, olive- 

 shaded above. 



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