172 
BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 
The lateral and ventral jilates are not particularly strong, but those of the dorsal are very large 
and strong, the height being one-fourth inch in the highest. 
3. Pantosteus jordani Evermaun. “ Black Sucker “ Blue Sucker.” 
I saw several examples of tins sucker at Gleim Ferry, which were caught in Mr. Henry Olsen’s 
seine September 19, 1894. Others were seen at O’Brien’s lishery, below Weiser, but it was not seen at 
Millet’s nor elsewliere on Snake Elver. This species had previously been taken by us in the Columbia 
River Basin at the following places: Snake River at Idaho Falls, Ross Fork near Pocatello, Boise 
River at Caldwell, Payette River at Payette, Umatilla River at Peiidletou, Columbia River at 
Umatilla, and Natchess River near North Yakima.' It has also been taken by Dr. Eigenmann® in the 
Boise River at Caldwell. It was not found by ns at the Redfish Lakes, but the collections made by 
Mr. Williams at Big Payette Lake indicate that it is not an nucommou fish in that region. His 
collections contain numerous siiecimens from Payette River 4 miles above Big Payette Lake, and from 
Big Payette Lake itself. 
In the following table are given comparative measurements of 9 of these specimens. Nos. 40 
and 41 are from Snake River at Glenn Ferry, the others from Big Payette Lake and vicinity: 
No. 
Length. 
Sex. 
Head. 
Depth. 
Snout. 
Eye. 
Dorsal. 
Anal. 
Scales. 
40 
13 
Male. 
5 
5 
2i 
11 
7 
15- 91-13 
41 
12 
Male. 
5 
5 
2| 
5i 
12 
7 
16-100-15 
197 
Hi 
5i 
2 
7 
12 
7 
17-103-15 
198 
11-1 
5i 
5i 
2 
12 
7 
16-103-13 
199 
12J- 
5i 
5i 
2 
6 
12 
7 
17- 99-15 
170 
lOJ 
5 
5 
2 
C 
12 
7 
17- 94-15 
171 
12 
5 
2 
6 
12 
7 
17-107-15 
208 
G 
5 
ii 
2i 
5 
12 
7 
17-101-15 
It will be noticed that these specimens are much larger than any of this species heretofore 
obtained. An exanuuation of over 500 specimens collected in the Upper Missouri Basin in 1891, 18S2, 
and 1893, and in the Columbia Basin in 1893, failed to discover any examples over 10 inches long. 
The posterior chamber of the air bladder is very long and slender, and renewed examination of that 
organ in this species and in several species of Cntosiouiiis confirms the view already stated by me, that 
the air bladder affords the best differential character upon which to separate Catostomus and Fantos- 
teus.^ The color of the peritoneum is also a character of value in determining these species; in 
P. jordani it is usually quite black, while iu numerous examples of C. catostomus examined it is more 
or less silvery. 
4. Catostomus macrocheilus Girard. “ Columbia Birer Sucker”; - “ Yellow Sucker.” 
Abundant in all suitable places in the Columbia basin below the Auger Falls of Snake River. 
In 1894 I found it common in Snake River at Upper Salmon Falls, Glenn Ferry, and Weiser, and 
numerous young were taken in Maun Creek and in the sjuall branch of Little Weiser River at 
Snow’s. Mr. Williams found it in large numbers in Payette Lake and its outlet. In Alturas, Pettit, 
and Redfish lakes and their connecting streams it is one of the most abundant sjiecies. When Dr. 
Meek and Mr. Scofield began their observations, July 17, the suckers were found in the streams, but 
as the season advanced and the water became lower and less cold, they ran into the lakes, where they 
remained. After August 10 few adult individuals were seen any where except in the lakes, though 
the young, one-half to 2 inches long, were abundant iu shallow, quiet water along the streams. 
The gill net set iu Alturas Outlet took a good many suckers at various times between J uly 20 and 
September 12. The catch was as follows: July 20th, 4; 22d, 1; 23d, 2; 24th, 3; 25th, 3; September 
4th, 7; 6th, 1; 11th, 5. 
During August and September suckers could be seen in large numbers at certain places in the 
lakes, the best place being about the mouth of the inlet. I first noticed them in Redfish Lake, August 
' Gilbert & Evermaun : Report upon Physical and Natural History Investigations in the Columbia 
River Basin, in Bull. U. S. Fish Comm., xiv, for 1894, 169-207. 
"American Naturalist, Feb., 1893, and Bull. U. S. Fish Comm., xiv, for 1894, 107. 
"Bull. U. S. Fish Comm., xii, for 1892, 52. 
