FISHES OF CHESAPEAKE BAY 
117 
Uhler and Lugger (1876, p. 181) say of this fish for the Chesapeake region: “Common in the 
lower Potomac and in the parts of rivers within the reach of tide. Brought to our markets in 
large numbers and find a ready sale.” At the present time, however, the conger is only a straggler 
in the bay, for many of the fishermen did not know the fish and we observed and collected only 
two specimens during 1921 and 1922. Because of its rarity, the conger obviously is of no com- 
mercial importance in the Chesapeake. Smith (1907, p. 112) remarks: “Although an excellent 
food fish, extensively sought and eaten in Europe and Asia, the conger supports no fishery in the 
United States and is sparingly utilized.” 
The conger eel attains a very large size in Europe, from whence a specimen of 128 pounds is 
recorded, and fish up to 60 pounds are not unusual. On our coast about 20 pounds appears to be the 
maximum. Only the female grows large and the male is thought to reach only 2jdj feet in length 
and only several pounds in weight. 
Habitat . — All warm seas except the eastern Pacific, inhabiting the Atlantic coast of America 
from Massachusetts to Uruguay. 
Chesapeake localities. — (a) Previous records: Lower Potomac and within parts of rivers within 
the reach of tide (Uhler and Lugger, 1876). ( b ) Specimens in collection: Cape Henry, Va., Feb- 
ruary 19, 1922, beam trawl, depth 48 feet; Ocean View, October 11, 1922, 1,800-foot haul seine. 
Order EVENTOGNATHI 
Family XXV.-CATGST0MID7E. The suckers 
Body oblong or elongate, usually more or less compressed; head somewhat conical; nostril 
double; no barbels; mouth variable in size, usually protractile and with fleshy lips, jaws toothless; 
lower pharyngeal bones falciform, armed with a single row of numerous comblike teeth; branchi- 
ostegals 3; gill membranes somewhat connected with the isthmus, restricting the gill openings to the 
sides; gills 4, a slit behind the fourth; scales cycloid, wanting on the head; the fins without true 
spines; adipose fin wanting; ventral fins abdominal. The suckers comprise a large family of fresh- 
water fishes. Only a few of the species venture into brackish water and none of them enter salt 
water. 
KEY TO THE GENERA 
a. Lateral line interrupted or wanting; scales large, 35 to 50 in a lateral series. 
b. Lateral line entirely wanting; species small Erimyzon, p. 117 
bb. Lateral line present, at least in adults, more or less interrupted; species larger 
Minytrema, p. 118 
aa. Lateral line complete and continuous; scales small, 55 or more in a lateral series. 
Catostomus, p. 119 
33. Genus ERIMYZON Jordan. Chub suckers 
Body oblong, compressed; mouth subinferior; upper lip protractile; lower lip large, plicate, 
V-shaped; gill rakers long; pharyngeal bones weak, with small slender teeth; lateral line wanting; 
scales rather large, somewhat crowded anteriorly; dorsal fin short, with about 11 rays; the anal 
fin still shorter; caudal fin scarcely forked, but usually more or less concave. A single species of 
wide distribution in fresh and slightly brackish water is known. 
44. Erimyzon sucetta (Lac6pede). Chub sucker; “Mullet”; “Horned sucker.” 
Cyprinus sucetta Laefipede, Hist. Nat. Poiss., V, 1803, p. 606; South Carolina. 
Moxostoma oblongum Uhler and Lugger, 1876, ed. I, p. 165; ed. II, p. 141. 
Erimyzon sucetta Jordan and Everman, 1896-1900, p. 185, PI. XXXVI, fig. 89; Smith and Bean, 1899, p. 181. 
Erimyzon sucetta oblongus Fowler, 1912, p. 53. 
Head 3.5 to 4.1; depth 3.1 to 3.9; D. 9 to 12; A. 7 or 8; scales 36 to 45. Body oblong, com- 
pressed, back elevated; head rather short; snout short, 2.5 to 3.2 in head; eye 3.8 to 5.8; interor- 
bital space 2.2 to 2.6; scales large, closely overlapping, at least anteriorly, 13 to 15 in a transverse 
series; dorsal fin a little higher than long, situated over the ventrals; caudal fin with a more or 
