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BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF FISHERIES 
large mouth, and many myomeres. The appearance of ventrals, elements of the anal, 
and turned-up notochord are characters rarely found in such an early larva. Dorsal 
marginal fin fold raised and notched over the middle of body, indicating the position 
of dorsal fin; adipose not marked out; a few caudal rays forming, but otherwise no 
rays discernible. 
Pigmentation. — Only a few chromatophores are apparent on snout and sides of 
head, but many large, stellate spots cover top of head, and the dorsal and lateral 
aspects of body. 
21 .5 -millimeter stage . — Total length, 21.5; standard length, 18.5; length to vent, 
13.8; length of head, 4.3; snout, 0.85; diameter of eye, 1.4; greatest depth before 
vent, 4.8; greatest depth behind vent, 4.0 millimeters. Myomeres, 42 to vent plus 
22 behind. The yolk sac much reduced from the preceding stage, but still of con- 
siderable size. About 8 rays in dorsal, 9 in anal, and most of the caudal rays visible. 
BREEDING 
Spawning takes place on rocky shoals and reefs in depths of 77 to 90 feet during 
October and November. The eggs develop on the bottom of rocky caverns over 
which they are deposited, and hatch in late winter or early spring. At a temperature 
of 47° F. in the laboratory, the larvse hatch about the last week of January, but lower 
temperatures will retard incubation greatly. It is estimated that a 24-pound lake 
trout may spawn approximately 15,000 eggs. 
6. Carpiodes cyprinus (LeSueur). White carp; buffalo mullet; quillback; swordfin. 
RECORD OF CAPTURE 
No larvse of this species were taken by townets in Lake Erie, but adults were 
found commonly in the lake and in most of the larger streams of the region, and young 
were numerous at the mouths of creeks and on shallow mud flats several miles 
upstream. 
DESCRIPTION 
The young quillback resembles the carp ( Cyprinus carpio ) in its elongate dorsal 
fin, but is readily distinguished by the character of the small inferior mouth, small 
eye, and relatively long deep cheek. The difference in myomere counts is diagnostic 
(a 21 millimeter C. cyprinus has 25 plus 12 + , and a C. carpio of equal length 19 plus 
15-17 myomeres.) 
21 .0-millimeter stage . — Total length, 21.0; standard length, 16.5; length to vent, 
13.4; length of head, 5.5; snout, 1.25; greatest depth before vent, 4.68; greatest depth 
