FISHERIES OF LAKE ONTARIO. 
207 
cisco iu whose mouth was a large alewife which had .just been seized. The young 
alewives are said to have been repeatedly found in the stomachs of the lake herring. 
Hoy’s whitefish, or the lake moon-eye, is one of the smallest Coregoni occurring 
in the Great Lakes, and it is considered to be the handsomest member of the genus. 
According to Jordan, the average length is only 1 foot and the weight only half a 
pound, but specimens considerably larger occur in Lake Ontario, some of those seen 
being 18 inches long and weighing nearly 2 pounds. This species resembles the cisco 
( C . artedi) and differs from the regular whitefish in having the lower jaw projecting 
instead of included, and is further distinguished from the common whitefish by having- 
less elevation of the back. The upper part of the body is of bluish color, and the sides 
and under parts have a very brilliant silvery reflection. The moon-eye is essentially 
a deep-water fish, and iu Lake Ontario it is never observed in shallow water. 
The menominee or round whitefish differs from the other species in having a remark- 
ably small and narrow mouth, situated on the under side of the snout. Its back is 
not elevated as in the common whitefish. It frequents the deeper waters of the lake. 
The mongrel whitefish or tullibee reaches a length of 18 inches, and is a stout and 
deep fish, with a projecting lower jaw. It is a species inhabiting deep water, and is 
very prolific. 
In the absence of specimens, it would be futile to attempt to assign to the various 
less common species the names given by the fishermen. The most that can be done 
is to record the vernacular designations, together with such information as could be 
obtained regarding the fish represented, and to defer the settlement of the question 
until further data shall be secured. It is hoped that the presentation of the illustra- 
tions of the rarer whitefish may aid in bringing about a clearer and wider knowledge 
of the fish life of the lake. 
Under the names “bloater” and “round whitefish” the fishermen of the eastern 
end of the lake recognize a' species (probably Coregonm hoyi) which is smaller than the 
common whitefish, usually attaining a length of oidy 15 inches and weighing less than 
a pound. A few years ago the fish was almost unknown to the fishermen making their 
headquarters at Cape Vincent, the principal fishing center on the lake, but of late 
considerable quantities have been taken, and the fish appears to be increasing in num- 
bers with great rapidity. It has soft, oily flesh, and during recent years has commanded 
only half the price of regular whitefish. 
This may be the same fish which further west on the shores of the lake is known 
by various other names. At Oswego, for instance, the names heard were “ bloater,” 
“bloater whitefish,” “ silver whitefish,” “ Ontario whitefish,” “siscowet” or “ciscoette,” 
and “long jaws”; it seems very probable, however, that more species than one are in- 
cluded in this list. In 1885* it was remarked of the fish called “ siscowet” or “silver 
whitefish” at Oswego, that it was quite plentiful, weighed from l.j to 2 pounds, and 
sold almost as readily as the common whitefish. This fish in 1890 and 1891 was said 
to be less abundant than formerly in the vicinity of Oswego. The fish is found in 
much deeper water than the common species, being taken in gill nets at a depth of 600 
feet. It is said to be very prolific. 
To what extent the decrease in the regular whitefish may be influenced by the 
abundance of these fish in different parts of the lake is yet to be determined. 
* Review of the Fisheries of the Great Lakes, p. 316. 
