NOTES ON TWO AMERICAN WHITEFISHES. 
3 
in length), less depth (5^ in length), a rather larger eye (3^ to 3| in head), the top of 
head contained If times in distance between occiput and dorsal origin, 2 to 6 fewer 
scales in the lateral line, and with the dorsal origin rather nearer snout than base of 
caudal. 
This fish more closely resembles Goregomis artedi than it does any other known 
whitefish. The chief points of similarity are the protracted lower jaw and the numer- 
ous long gill-rakers. From G. artedi^ however, it differs in a number of important 
features, among which the following may be mentioned: 
(1) The general form of the two fishes is quite dissimilar, G. osmeriformis being 
much more slender and compressed, with the greatest depth less than leugth of head, 
while in G. artedi the depth is equal to or greater than head. The ratio of body 
length to greatest depth is 3| or 4 to 1 in G. artedi and 5 to 1 in G. osmeriformis. 
(2) The dorsal fin in G. osmeriformis is more posteriorly placed, beiug'nearer base 
of caudal than snout; in G. artedi the dorsal origin is nearer snout than base of 
caudal, or is situated midway between those points. 
(3) In G. osmeriformis the mandible is longer than in G. artedi, being contained 
twice in head in former and 2^ to 3 times in latter. The maxillary is also longer in 
G. osmeriformis ; its leugth is contained 3 times in head, while in the other species it 
is contained 3^ times. 
This fish differs from Goregonus lioyi as described by Jordan * (not as defined by 
Milner t) in the following essential particulars: 
(t) Goregonus hoyi, according to Jordan, belongs in the group of whitefishes char- 
acterized by an included lower jaw (subgenus Goregonus), of which Goregomis cliipei- 
formis is the tyiie; Goregonus osmeriformis has a lower jaw which iirojects considerably 
beyond the upper even when the mouth is closed (subgenus Argyrosonms). 
(2) G. hoyi has a somewhat elevated back and a relatively deep body (4^- in 
length); in G. osmeriformis t\io, back is not elevated and the body is slender (5 in 
length.) The general form of G. hoyi is that of a herring {Glupea)-, that of G. osmeri- 
formis suj)erficially resembles a smelt (Osmerus). 
(3) ISTumerous minor differences might be noted. In G. hoyi the developed anal 
rays are fewer (10 instead of 13) ; the scales are somewhat less numerous (8-77-8 instead 
of 9-83-8) ; the origin of the dorsal is nearer snout than base of caudal in G. hoyi and 
nearer base of caudal than snout in G. osmeriformis-, the eye is contained 3v^ times 
in head in G. hoyi, 4 times in G. osmeriformis. 
This species was first brought to public notice by Dr. Tarleton H. Bean in an 
article in the Proceedings of the U. S. National Museum for 1882, entitled “ Descrip- 
tion of a species of whitefish, Goregomis hoyi (Gill) Jordan, called ‘smelt’ in some 
parts of New York.” The paper is based on the specimens in the National Museum, 
to which reference has been made. The example collected by Professor Smith is 
described in detail, a table of careful measurements being appended. Eegardiug this. 
fish Dr. Beau remarks: 
* 
The species is most closely related to C. artedi, hut differs from it and all other species known to 
me in many important characters, which have been only vaguely indicated in most of the published 
descriptions. 
* Manual of the Vertebrates. — American Naturalist, 1875, p. 136. — Also, Jordan & Gilbert, Synop- 
sis of the Fishes of North America. 
tReport U. S. Fish Commission 1872-73, p. 86. 
