514 



NOKTH AMEKICAN FAUNA. 



[NO. 27. 



observed by Kennicott at P^ort Resolution, May 15, 1860, and later 

 at Peel River (Fort McPherson) , belong to the same species." 



Although so small, these sticklebacks often occur in such myriads 

 that they are used for food. Richardson states that they were col- 

 lected by the sledge load from a lake near Cumberland House, to be 

 used for dog food.^ Nelson reports that in the marshy country 

 between the mouths of the Yukon and the Kuskoquim they were 

 caught in great numbers in dip nets and formed an important item in 

 the food supply of that district.^ 



Stizostedion vitreum (Mitchill). Wall-eyed Pike; Dore; Pickerel. 



The dore, as it is almost universall}^ called in the north, is rather 

 common north to Great Slave Lake. It is taken in numbers in 

 xVthabaska River, Athabaska Lake, and Slave River, and is rather 

 common in Great Slave Lake. It is found also in many of the 

 smaller rapid streams such as are frequented by the grayling, and is 

 an active and spirited fish, readily taking a troll, and when hooked 

 fighting vigorously for its liberty. It is an excellent food fish, hut 

 of course must yield the palm in this regard to the unsurpassed 

 whitefish, Avith which it is associated. The northernmost point where 

 I took it was low^er Grandin River, north of Fort Rae, and I was 

 informed that it is fairly common in Willow or Horn River, near 

 Fort Providence. 



Cottus cog-natus Richardson. Bear Lake Bullhead; Miller's Thumb. 



This small cottoid was described by Richardson from specimens 

 taken in Great Bear Lake in May, at which time, he says, it resorts | 

 to the stony shallows to spawn.^ It is probable that the species has I 

 an extensive distribution in the north, but it has not been detected | 

 elsewhere in the Mackenzie region. Evermann and Goldsborough | 

 have recently recorded it from Lake Bennett, British Columbia.^ 



Oncocottus hexacornis (Richardson). Six-horned Bullhead. 



This sculpin was described from specimens collected at the mouth 

 of Tree River, near the Coppermine.^ It is a salt-water species, 

 which occasionally enters the mouths of rivers. Pere Giroux in- 

 formed me that it comes rarely to Arctic Red River. 



Lota maculosa (Le Sueur). Loche; Methye; Maria. 



This voracious fish is present in nearly every lake and stream 

 throughout the Mackenzie region, and also in the Arctic Ocean. It 



« Trans. Chicago Acad. Sci., I, pp. 171, 208, 1869. 

 * Fauna Boreali-Americana,' III, p. 57, 1836. 

 <^ Report on Nat. Hist. Collections in Alaska, p. 301, 1888. 

 <^ Fauna Boreali-Americana, III, p. 40, 1836. 

 <^ Bull. Bur. Fisheries, XXVI, p. 307, 1907. 



f Eichardson in Franklin's Narrative Journey to Polar Sea, p. 726, 1823. 



