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In three cases these were unrecognizable, and in two others I could 
only tell that they were Acanthopteri. Four of the remaining ‘‘Pike”’ 
had eaten hickory shad (Dorysoma cepedianum), two had eaten 
eatfish (Siluride) of which one was an Amiurus, two had eaten 
sheepshead (Haploidonotus grnnniens), and one had taken a black 
bass and some sunfish (Centrarchide). The presence in the stomach 
of one of these fishes, of a catfish of medium size, with its poisonous 
pectoral and dorsal spines unbroken, was a striking illustration of 
the gastric energy of this species. 
STIZOSTETHIUM viITREUM, Mitch. Pixe-Percae.. Waut-EvYED Pixs. 
s 
““SALMON.” 
- This is far the finest of our river fishes,—second to no fresh- 
water species except, possibly, some of the salmon family. It occurs 
In the great lakes, and throughout the State generally iw the larger 
streams. It is a much larger fish than the preceding, not unfrequently 
reaching a weight of twenty pounds. Certainly no fish of our waters 
is better deserving of attention than this. The only drawback to its 
increase is its voracity; but, although it devours an immense num- 
ber of other fishes, there is no evidence that it is wantonly de- 
istructive or that it eats more in proportion to its weight than the 
black bass. 
Twelve of this species were examined, two of which were under 
three inches in length, and the others adult. 
Food of the Young. 
A specimen two inches long, taken in the Illinois R., at Pekin, 
June 3, 1880, had eaten only a minute fish. One two and a half 
inches long, taken at the-same place in June, 1878, had also eaten 
ia small fish and a few Entomostraca (Cypridide and Daphniide). 
The appearance of these Entomostraca in the food of a fish of this 
size, makes it altogether probable, that Stizostethium, like Perea, 
wholly depends-on these minute Crustacea, when very young. 
Food of the Adult. 
The remaining specimens, taken from three localities, had eaten 
nothing but fishes, one half of them only the hickory shad or skip- 
jack (Lorysoma cepedianum). In one other specimen, this species 
Was associated with a minnow (Cyprinide), and in still another 
with a small sunfish with three anal spines (Centrarchide). One 
of the remaining stomachs contained only an unrecognizable fish, 
and the other two contained Cyprinide, including the creek chub, 
Semotilus corporalis. : 
_ The two species of this genus ,agree so closely in food that they 
may well be discussed together. Apart from their exclusively pisci- 
vorous habit, the most interesting fact shown is the importance of 
the hickory shad as food for this fish. We shall find accumulating 
evidence that this shad, utterly useless for human food, is, notwith- 
standing, one of the most valuable fishes in our streams. Never- 
theless, not the slightest attention is paid to its preservation, much 
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