Wagner—Fish Fauna of Lake Pepin . 
31 
of rostrum very much heavier than in B. Skeleton of dorsal 
surface of head narrower. 
L Acipenser rubicundus. Rock Sturgeon. Pound for 
pound, this is the most valuable fish marketed by the seiners. 
Large specimens have become scarce, however, in late years, so 
that twelve or fifteen in a season are considered a good catch. 
Smaller ones, up to fifty centimeters in length, are not uncom¬ 
mon. The food of this fish in Lake Pepin, in summer at least, 
consists entirely of the larvae of Ephemerids. 
5. Scaphirhynchus (?). White Sturgeon; Sand Sturgeon. 
Prom descriptions of the fishermen, it seems certain that there 
occurs here, though rarely, either Scaphirhynchus plato- 
rhynchus Raf., or the recently described P arascaphirhynchus 
albus Eorbes and Richardson. I have not myself seen any 
specimens taken here. 
6. Lepidosieus osseus. Billy-Gar; Garfish. Seemingly a 
common form, although only one large female was caught in 
the big seine. Small specimens, from eleven to twenty-two 
centimeters in length, were caught almost daily with our min¬ 
now seine. 
7. Lepidosteas platostomus. Billy-Gar; Garfish. Two 
females, each about sixty-five centimeters in length, and both 
heavy with eggs, were brought in with the large seine. One 
dead specimen was picked up on shore. Eishermen do not dis¬ 
tinguish between the two species of Lepidosteus. L. plato¬ 
stomus is seemingly rare, and is looked upon as abnormal. 
8. Amia calva. Dogfish. Quite common, some being 
brought in at almost every haul of the seine. Though not 
considered as of much value as food fishes, they are sometimes 
shipped with other rough fish, and as no protest ever comes 
from the commission merchants, they probably find a market. 
9. Ictalurus punctatus. Blue Cat. A fairly common fish 
here, though large specimens are not numerous enough to form 
any considerable proportion of the daily catch. Smaller speci¬ 
mens, up to thirty centimeters in length, were caught in great 
numbers in our Baird seine. This fish is highly prized and 
well paid for on the Chicago market. 
10. Leptops olivaris. Mud Cat. Rot so numerous as the 
