204 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
THE COMMON WHITEFISH. 
The present scarcity of the highly esteemed whiteflsh ( Coregonus clupeiformis ) in 
the American waters of Lake Ontario is one of the most noteworthy features of the 
fish life of the lake. The yield of this species is now only one-tenth what it was ten 
years ago, and in many localities in which the fish was formerly caught in considerable 
numbers it is now rarely, if ever, takeu. The full extent of the decrease will be seen 
when it is stated that 1,064,000 pounds were obtained in 1880, while in 1890 the total 
yield was only 148,771 pounds. 
The localities now chiefly resorted to by the whiteflsh are Charity Shoal, the Bay 
of Quinte, and around the Duck Islands ; these are all in the eastern end of the lake. 
Charity Shoal has been for many years a famous breeding-ground for both whiteflsh 
and trout. The Bay of Quinte and the Duck Islands are in Canada, and are the cen- 
ters of the most important whiteflsh fisheries now carried on in the lake. In the Bay 
of Quinte the fish run in very close to the shores, and the fishermen set their nets 
within a few rods of their dooryards. 
The average weight of the whiteflsh now caught in Lake Ontario is about 2£ 
pounds. The maximum weight in recent years has been about 14 pounds. The largest 
specimen recently brought into Oswego from Canada weighed 12^ pounds. At Sodus 
Point, where there was formerly a large run of whiteflsh, the gill-net fishermen now 
take only a few fish at a lift; these weigh from 5 to 14 pounds. 
Observations on the spawning time of whiteflsh on the American shore go to 
show that this usually begins about November 10; it is, of course, subject to variation 
due to storms, temperature, etc. 
The present scarcity of whiteflsh on the southern shores of the lake is not without 
precedent, although the length of the period of scarcity is probably greater than ever 
before known. There seems to have been a well-marked decennial diminution of white- 
fish on our shores through a long period of years, with a corresponding increase on 
the northern side of the lake. It is recorded,* for instance, that in 1870 whiteflsh 
were much more plentiful on the American shores; ten years before, the reverse was 
true ; in 1880 the fish were less abundant on the southern side. In 1890, however, 
about which time, following the rule of the three previous decades, the whiteflsh 
should have reached the acme of their abundance on the shores of New York, they 
failed to appear; and, indeed, since 1880 the general tendency has been toward a 
decline on our shores, and the disparity between the two sides has been yearly more 
pronounced; while the experience of fishermen and personal observation indicate that 
the supply of whiteflsh in Canadian waters is annually increasing, and in 1891, in 
certain localities, was larger than for 20 years. 
It is interesting to note that, in the experience of both anglers and fishermen, 
pike, bass, perch, pike perch, and similar predaceous species have increased on our 
shores in direct ratio with the decrease of the whiteflsh. Whether this is anything 
more than a coincidence is not known. The fish named, it may be observed, have had 
greater protection during the past decade than ever before. Fishing for them with 
nets has been practically stopped in waters adjacent to the shores. Incidentally white- 
flsh and other species that do not readily take the hook have also had protection from 
* The Fisheries and Fishery Industries of the United States, section i, p. 510. 
