USA > Vermont > History of Vermont, natural, civil, and statistical, in three parts, with a new map of the state, and 200 engravings > Part 25
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Rays, D. 13, P. 18, V. 9, A. 8, C. 18. -Storer.
IlISTORY .- This I suppose to be the common Sneker on the east side of the Green Mountains in this state ; but not having obtained any good specimen of it, I have copied above Dr. Storer's descrip- tion, which was made from a specimen obtained from Walpole. They frequently weigh 3 or 4 pounds, and exceed 20 inch- es in length.
THE LONG-NOSED SUCKER.
Cutustomus longirostrum .- LE SUEUR. Journal Academy Nat. Sciences, Phil., 1-102.
DESCRIPTION .-- Body sub-cylindric, straight, delicate ; head flat ; eyes large, irides yellowish white ; aperture of the mouth greatly arcuated, and large ; scales very small and roundish ; color of the body above reddish, paler on the sides ; abdomen white, with a bluish tint; later- al line curved above the pectoral fin. Dorsal fin deeper than broad, quadrangn- lar ; the extremity of the anal fin does not reach the base of the candal ; hend hori
of the individual described 5 inches.
Rays, P. 16, V. 9, D. 12, A. 7, C. 18. -Le Sueur.
HISTORY .- " This fish I discovered," says Le Sneur, " in the state of Vermont ; I have not seen it in any other state." Not having met with this fish, I can only give Le Sueur's account of it.
GENUS LEUCISCUS .- Klein.
Generic Characters .- The dorsal and anal fins short and without strong rays at the com- mencement of either ; no cirri.
This genus embraces those fishes which are generally known in New England, by the names of Dace, Chub and Shiner.
THE COMMON DACE.
Leuciscus pulchellus .- STORER.
Storer's Report on Fishes of Massachusetts, p. 91.
DESCRIPTION .- Upper part of the head and tail blackish ; back approaching to olive ; sides lighter ; belly white ; checks, gill covers and lower fins more or less ruddy ; scales striated, exhibiting a most beautiful play of green, blue, golden and silvery reflections. A dark colored mem- brane visible at the junction of the scales, giving the sides of the fish a reticulated appearance ; 49 scales on the lateral line, which begins near the upper part of the gill-opening, bends rapidly downward through 9 scales, and then pursues a straight course to the tail. Head and operculum smooth, the latter with enpre- ous reflections. Scales rather large and much crowded above the pectoral fins. Eyes small, pupil black, surrounded by a golden line which fades into gray on the iris. Month large ; lips, tongue and palate fleshy ; jaws toothless ; two patches of pectinated teeth in the throat, with four teeth in each. Ventral fins under the front of the dorsal; the anal fin twice its length from the caudal ; the two first rays short and closely applied to the third in the dorsal and anal fin. Swimming bladder in two sacks connected by a tube. Length of the specimen before me 17 inches-from the snout to the posterior part of the opereulum 33 -- to the vent 94. Total length Al times the greatest depth.
Rays, Br 3, P. 16, V. 8, D 10, A. 10, C. 19.
136
NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.
PART I.
THE SHINER.
THE BROOK MINNOW.
Thisrony .- This fish is quite common | in lake Champlain and its tributaries. It is readily caught with the book, and the flavor of its flesh is agreeable, but it is so soft and filled with small bones that it is not much valued as an article of food. The length of those usually taken varies from 5 to 12 inches, but they sometimes grow to the length of 20 inches.
THE SHINER.
Leuciscus crysoleucas .- MITCHELL.
Trang. Lit, and Phil. Soc. of N. Y., p. 459. Panna Boreati Amor. Fishes pago 122.
Storer's Report, Fishes of Mass., page 88.
DESCRIPTION .-- Form ovate ; body deep and thin, the depth contained 4 times in the total length. Color greenish above, lighter on the sides and yellowish white beneath ; a very broad indistinct yellow- ish or copreons stripe along the side to the middle of the tail. The fins of a dull yellow color, with the extremities of the dorsal, caudal and anal fins and the first ray of the pectoral more or less black ; check and operculum with yellow and silvery reflections ; scales rather large, radiated, crossed by concentric undula- tions, or strix ; the whole side exhibiting blue, green, cupreous, yellow and silvery reflections, according to the direction of the light. Eyes large ; iris bright yellow. Ilead and gill covers smooth, month in front of the eyes, small, toothless, and di- rected upwards. The lateral line com- mences near the upper part of the gill opening, bends downwards and passes along nearly parallel to the curve of the abdomen, to the tail, being only one third as far from the belly as from the back at the ventral fin. Swimming bladder in two sacks. Length of the pectoral fins to their height as 2 to 7; ventrals before the dorsal with slender bracts above their base ; dorsal fin medial, its length being to the height of the anterior part as I to 2; the anal fin commences under the termi- nation of the dorsal, its length being to the height of the anterior part as 7 to 6; tail large and forked. Length of the spo- cimen before me 4.6 inches ; depth 1 1.
Rays, Br. 3, P. 17, V. 8, D. 10, A. 15, C. 19.
ThisToRY .- This fish is quite common, particularly in the small ponds and coves along the shore of lale Champlain, and abont the mouths of our large streams,
where it is found associated with perch, bull-pouts and mud fishes.
THE BROOK MINNOW.
Leuciscus atrouasus .- MITCHELL.
Trans. Lit. and Phil. Soc. p. 460. Storer's Report on Fishes of Mass., p. 92.
DESCRIPTION .- Body rather thick and deep through the abdomen ; head a little flattened above, and narrowed towards the snont. Color above brownish olive spotted with black; beneath white with cupreous and silvery reflections,and some- times red ; a dark band passes round the nose, crosses the eye, passes along the sides and through the middle of the tail, which is forked ; above this band is us- ually a yellowish stripe ; eyes middling size ; iris bright yellow, where it is not darkened by the above mentioned dark band. The lateral line commences on the nape of the neck, passes obliquely down- wards across the dark band on the side and along the lower margin of the band to the tail. Nostrils large, double and tubelar. Dorsal fin behind the ventrals and tivice as high as it is long. Vent me- dial and under the posterior rays of the dorsal fin. Fins brownish yellow. Swim- ming bladder in two sacks connected by a tube. Length 23 inches ; head a little more than one sixth of the total length.
Rays, Br. 3, P. 12, V. 7, D. 7, A. 7, C 19.
HISTORY .- This species is quite com- mon in most of the streams in Vermont, and particularly so in those that fall di- rectly into lake Champlain. It is an ac- tive, lively little fish, and on account of the stripes on its sides, the colors of which are changeable, according to the direction of the light falling upon them, it is one of our most beautiful fishes. When fully grown this fish is only from 2! to 3 inches long, and, though found in great numbers, its diminutive size ren- ders it of no account as an article of food. It is chiefly sought to be used as bait for Pike and other large fishes.
The Eroglosson nigrescens, described by Rafinesque in the Journal of Academy Nat. Sei., Phil., 1-422, which he says be found in lake Champlain, and several oth- ers of this family, which I know to exist in our waters, I have thought it best to omit, because I cannot speak of them with confidence without further exami- nation.
137
FISHES OF VERMONT.
CHAP. 5.
THE NUD FISH.
THE COMMON PIKE.
GENUS HYDRARGYRA .- Le Sueur.
Generic Characters .- Ventral fins 6 rayed ; teeth in the jaws and throat ; those of the jaws ennie and recurved ; none in the palate ; jaws pro- Tracui'e; lower jaw longer than the upper one ; one dorsi fin, snuated nearer the tail than the head opposite to the attal on ; scales on the oper- cula and body ; head flat, shielded abovo with large scales, the centre scale largest.
THE MUD FISH. Hydrargyra fusca.
DESCRIPTION .- Color above dark olive, mottled with blackish; sides mottled or variegated with brown, green and golden, with faint indications of yellowish bars ; belly dull brownish, bronzy yellow ; fins dusky yellow ; sides yellowish at the base of the tail, crossed by a vertical black bar, with a brownish, crescent-shaped line a- long the base of the caudal rays, making, with a vertical line, the form of the letter D. Form thick and plump; head slight- ly flattened above ; upper jaw shorter than the lower, and broadly truncated ; lower jaw curved upward and rounded ; month slightly cleft; teeth in both jaws and front part of the vomer, small, crowd- ed, und incurved ; four patches of short, conical teeth in the throat. Eyes moder- ately large, pupil black, iris yellow, cor- nea very prominent and clear. Scales on the body, head, cheeks and opereulum ; those on the back part of the head largest. Tail fully rounded, a little shorter than the head, which is a little more than one- fifth the total length of the fish. Ventral fins small, medial, and slightly in advance of the beginning of the dorsal; anal fin under the posterior part of the dorsal and about as high as long ; the dorsal nearly twice as long as high, and about its length from the caudal. The dorsal and anal have their first rays short and closely ap- plied to the second ray ; outer rays of the candal also very short. Length of the longest of 12 specimens before me 42 in- ches; greatest depth .8; thickness .5.
Rays, Br. 4, P. 15, V. 6, D. 14, A. 10, C. 16.
HISTORY .- These fishes exist in con- siderable numbers in the marshes and coves along the margin of lake Cham- plain, and of the rivers which fall into it. They are very tenacious of life, and live longer than most fishes without water. During droughts, as the waters subside
and recede from the coves, they have the power, by a springing motion, of trans- porting themselves from one little puddle to another. They also have the power of partially burying themselves and living in the mud and among the moist grass- roots, after the other small fishes associa- ted with them are all dead for the want of water. In these sitnations vast numbers of them are devoured by birds, muskrats, and foxes. In severe droughts, like that of' 1841, the quantity of small fishes which die in consequence of the drying up of the coves, is exceedingly great. In one sinall cove, which I visited on the 24th of September, 1241, I found Mud Fishes and other small fishes dead in piles, in the low places which had become dry. One small portion of the cove, still covered with wa- ter and leaves to the depth of 4 or 5 in- ches, was literally filled with fishes strug- gling together for existence. This por- tion amounted to about one square rod, and in this space there could not have been much less than a barrel of fishes. They consisted of pickerel, yellow perch, shiners, bull pouts and mud fishes, but mostly of the two last. My feelings were really pained at the sight, and moved by compassion for the poor fishes, I heartily wished for rain, which, on the next day, came in abundance, to the joy, not only of the fishes and their sympathizers, but of the whole country.
II .- ESOCES, OR PIKE FAMILY. GENUS Esox .- Linnaus.
Generic Characters .-- Spout elongated, broad, depressed, and obtuse ; sides of the lower jaw with long acute teeth ; intermaxillaries, pal- ale, vomer and tongue studded with small teeth ; a single dorsal fin, situated far back and over the anal fin,
TIJE COMMON PIKE.
Esox estor .- LR: SUEUR.
Journal Acad: Nat Sci., Phil., 1 -419. Esox lucius, Rich. Fauna Borcali, p 124.
DESCRIPTION .- Body thick, somewhat four-sided ; back nearly straight from the head to the dorsal fin, and parallel to the abdomen. Color of the back blackish green ; sides lighter, with violet and Bil- very reflections and several longitudinal rows of rounded and oblong yellowish spots; belly pearly white. Mlead one
P.r. I. 18
.
138
NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT
PART I.
THE BULL POUT
THE PICKEREL.
fourth the total length, flattened or con- cave on the upper part, and of a dark bot- the green color ; large pores on the head and lower jaw ; nppor jaw broad, flatten- ed and thinned down to an edge at the extremity ; lower jaw reflected and long- er than the upper; tongue truncated at the extremity ; teeth on the tongue, vo- mer, palatine bones and jaws, of different sizes, and either straight or hooking in- wards; eyes lateral, close to the crown, and mid-way between the gill opening and end of the snont; pupil surrounded by a golden line and grayish iris. Seales small, often emarginate, and towards the back marked with bright lines in the form of the letter V. Lateral line nearly straight, nearer the back than belly, and formed by a deep notch in every 3d or 4th scale; usually several irregular rows of these notched scales on the sides resem- bling lateral lines. Fins all marked with brownish and yellow, and usually more or less roddy except the dorsal ; pectoral and ventral fins small; the posterior at- tachment of the ventrals medial ; vent under the front part of the dorsal, and anal iin under the posterior part ; tail forked. Preoperealmin irregular, narrow in the middle ; opriculum quadrangular, scaly on the upper part; suboperculum narrow, and a little longer than the oper- culum ; interoperenlom small aud mostly concealed. Length of the specimen be- fore me 17 inches-to the pectorals 4, ventrals 8. anal 114.
Ruys, Br. 15, P. 13, V. 10, D. 18, A. 16, C. 19.
HISTORY .- This species is very com- mon in lake Champlain and all its larger tributaries. It is generally known in Vermont by the name of Pickerel. About the north end of the lake and in Canada generally it is called the Pike, on account of its resemblance to the English Pike. Indeed the resemblance is so close that Dr. Richardson regards them as identical, and has described our Pike in his Fauna Boreali Americana under the name of the foreign species, Esox lucius, but they are generally regarded by naturalists as dis- tinct species. This fish grows to a large size, frequently exceeding 30 inches in length, and weighing 10 or 12 pounds. It is very voracious, and devours great numbers of reptiles and small fishes. It is taken both with the hook and seine, and is considered a very good fish for the table. The fishermen say that there is another fish of this family in lake Cham- plain, which they call the Mashalonge. If so, it is probably the fish which Richard- son ( Fauna Boreali, p. 127) calls E. cstor, Maskinonge. I lately received one which
was sent me as a Maskalonge, but which proved to be only a plump specimen of the Common Pike.
THE PICKEREL.
Esor reticulatus .- L.K SUEUR. Jouraat Academy Nat. Fri , 1-414. Storer's Report, Fishes of Mass., p. 97.
DESCRIPTION .--- Color variable from greenish brown to brilliant golden, but in all cases marked with irregularly distrib- uted longitudinal lines ; beneath white. Snout obtuse ; gape of the mouth great ; lower jaw longer than the upper; teeth in front of the lower jaw small, on the sides large and pointed. Eyes moderate in size, pupil black, iris yellow ; nostril donble; fins greenish ; the pectoral and anal reddish after death ; dorsal fin longer than the anal; pectorals commence on a line with the 16th branchial ray ; vent large, 2 lines in front of the anal fin ; from the dorsal fin to the commencement of the caudal 2 inches. Length of the specimen from which the above descrip- tion was made 16 inches ; head about one fourth the length of the body ; width of the head in front of the eyes equal to half its length.
Rays, B. 17, D. 18, P. 13, V. 11, A. 17, C. 19 -Storer
History .-- This is the Common Pick- erel on the east side of the Green Moun- tains in Vermont, as the preceding spe- cies is on the west side. It is found in Connecticut river and most of its larger tributaries, and it has multiplied exceed- ingly in several ponds to which it has been transported by the inhabitants in the neighborhood. This is the Common Pick- orel of Massachusetts and the other New England states.
III .- SILURIDIE OR CAT-FISH FAMILY. GENUS PIMELODUS .- LArepede.
Generic Characters .- Body covered with a naked skin ; ho lateral armature ; jaws and often palatine bones furnished with teeth, bat there is no band of teeth on the vomer parallel to that on the upper jaw. The form of the head varies ex- verdingly, as well as the munber of eirri. Two dorsal fins, the second adipose.
THE BULL POUT.
Pimetodas culturis.
Silurus catus, Mitch. Trans. Lit. Phi. Society of New York, page 133.
DESCRIPTION .- Body without scales, covered with a mucous skin, tapering and cylindrical ; head large, broad, depressed, color above dark, approaching to black ; sides dark olive, or fuliginous, the color rubbing off or becoming lighter after be-
139
FISHES OF VERMONT.
CHAP. 5.
THE HORNED POUT.
THE CAT FISH.
ing taken from the wiecr; belly dirty white, often tinged with red; fins dark, often purplish ; mouth broad ; under jaw longest, and a broad band of small conical teeth in each ; cirri 8, 4 in a row upon the under lip, the two outer ones nearly twice as large as the middle ones, one still larger at each angle of the mouth, and a small one at each nostril ; the first dorsal ray and the first ray in each peeto- ral fin a strong spine, with the point free and sharp. A bony process projects back- ward over the base of the pectoral fin. Tad slightly rounded. Length of the specimen before me 123 inches, width of the head 23, depth of the body 1.8, thickness 1.6.
Rays, B. 2, P. 1|7, V. 8, D 1|6-0, A. 20, C. 17.
IlisroRY .--- This fish, which is quite plentiful in lake Champlain, is here gen- erally known by the name of Bull Pout. Those taken from the lake are usually from 9 to 13 inches in length. For the table they require skinning like the Eel ; but, though their flesh is tender and well flavored, there is so much waste in dress- ing, because of the great size of the head, that very little account is made of them as an article of food. This fish I suppose to be the species described by Dr. Mitch- ell under the name of Siluras catus, but whether it is the Pimceladus catus of Le Sueur, I have no means of judging, nev- er having seen his description.
THE HORNED POUT.
Pimrlodus aring; ..- LE SUEUR? Memoires du Sus, d'Hier Nat .. V-119. Storer's Kepatt, page 102.
DESCRIPTION .- Color dark olive, or fu- liginous, darkest on the head and back, yellowish or cupreous on the sides, ap- proaching to ruddy white on the belly ; fins mostly ruddy at the base and brown- ish towards the extremity ; head flattened above ; upper jaw rather longest ; both jaws furnished with numerous small coni- cal teeth ; 8 cirri about the head, 2 short ones at the nostrils, 4 longer ones on the chin, and 2 much longer, being I.l inch, extend backward from the angles of the mouth, and terminate in a fine filament Spine of the Ist dorsal articulated, and free at the point; spines of the pectorals also free at the point, and strongly serra- ted interiorly ; adipose fin over the poste- rior part of the anal. Tail nearly even. Length of the specimen before me 45 inches, width of the head .8. Body much flattened vertically towards the tail.
Rays, B. 7, P. 1j2, V. 8, D. 1|5, A. 20, C. 17.
HISTORY .- This fish is common in Con- nectient river, and in many of its larger tributaries The specimen from which my description was drawn was taken in Connecticut river at Barnet It is there called the Pout, or Horned Pout. Hay- ing had an opportunity to compare only this one small specimen from Connecticut river with the Bull Pout found in lake Champlain, I am not prepared to say with confidence that they do not both be- long to the same species ; but as this spe- cimen differs from the lake fish in having its body more flattened towards the tail, in having its upper jaw longest instead of shortest, in having the cirri at the angles of the mouth proportionally longer and the adipose fin more distant from the tail, I have introduced them as distinct species.
THE CAT FISHI. Pindodus *
DESCRIPTION .- Color dark smoky brown approaching to black above ; cupreous or fuliginous on the sides ; befly dull ruddy white ; skin scaleless and smooth ; fins dull smoky brown, more or less ruddy below. Head slopes gradually from the nape of the neck to the snout, which, as well as the head, is narrower and more pointed than the preceding species ; the body also is more elongated ; 8 cirri in the usual situations, all blackish excepting the two middle ones on the under lip which are flesh-colored, and not more than half as large as the two outer ones; those at the angle of the mouth very long, reaching beyond the pectorals half way to the ventral fins ; those at the nostrils smallest. Mouth narrow, with the upper jaw overlapping the lower ; teeth small, conical and numerous. Bony spine in the pectoral fin very strong, with about 20 sharp teeth on the posterior edge, and a strong bony process lying over the base of the fin ; first dorsal mid-way between the pectorals and ventrals, twice as high as long, spine more slender than in the pectorals ; height of the adipose fin l inch, situated over the posterior half of the anal, which is long and slightly rounded ; tail rather deeply forked with spreading, pointed lobes ; lateral line in- distinet. Length of the specimen before me, which was caught in Winooski river,
140
NATURAL HISTORY OF VERMONT.
PART I.
THE SALMON.
THE NAMAYCUSH TROUT.
18 inches ; from the snont to the pectoral 24 ; to the first dorsal 43; width of the head 2.4, longest cirri 4.3.
Rays, B. 8, P. 1|7, V. 8, D. 1|6-0, A. 25, C. IS.
Thisrony .- When I prepared my list of fishes at the beginning of this chapter, I supposed our Cat Fish to be the P. canto- sus of Richardson. Upon re-examination, since that list was printed, I find our fish does not agree with his description, and I am now satisfied that it does not belong to that species. It is probably one of the eight species described by Le Sueur in the Memoires du Museum a' Histoire Natu- relle, at Paris, but not having access to that work, I am unable to designate the species, or to say with certainty that it is embraced among those there described. This species is only occasionally taken in the vicinity of Burlington, but is regarded as very good fish for the table. In some parts of lake Champlain it is said to be quite plentiful.
IV .- SALMONIDÆ-SALMON FAMILY. GENUS SALMO.
Generic Characters .- Head smooth ; body covered with scales ; two dorsal fins, the first sup- ported by rays, the second fleshy, without rays ; month large ; sharp teeth on the jaws and longue ; branchial rays usually about ten ; ventral fins op- posite the centre of the first dorsal one.
THIE SALMON. Salmo salar .- LINNEUS.
DESCRIPTION .--- Color bluish silvery above, lighter on the sides and white be- neath ; black blotches upon the sides, much more numerous above the lateral line, for the most part surrounding the outline of the scales, leaving the color of the body unchanged ; the spots upon the scaleless head are unbroken, and of a deeper color. Length of the head equal to one fifth the length of the fish ; head sloping, darker colored above than the back of the specimen. Gill covers light silvery colored. Eyes small, pupil black, irides silvery ; diameter of the eye equal to one fourth the distance between the eyes. Nostrils nearer the eyes than the extremity of the snont. Upper jaw long- est, receiving into a notch at its middle the prominent tip of the lower jaw ; both jaws, the palatine bones, vomer and tongue armed with sharp incurved teeth ; lateral line nearly straight. The first dorsal fin commences on the anterior half of the body, height of its first rays equals its length ; dark colored, with longitudi- nal rows of black blotches upon its base ; length of the adipose fin equals one third its height ; pectorals arise in front of the
posterior angle of the gill covers ; length equals one fourth their height ; ventrals on a line opposite the middle of the dor- sal, having on their sides a large axillary scale ; anal fin white, higher than long ; caudal dark brown, forked.
Rays, D. 12, P. 15, V. 9, A. 10, C. 19. -Storer.
IHISTORY .- The Salinon, formerly very plentiful in nearly all the large streams in this state, is now so exceedingly rare a visitant that I have not been able to ob- tain a specimen taken in our waters, from which to make a description for this work. They have entirely crased to ascend our rivers, and only straggling individuals are now met with in lake Champlain. 1 have heard of only one being taken here during the past summer, and that I did not see. The causes which have been principally operative in driving these fish- es from our waters have already been mentioned. When the country was new, according to Dr. Williams, there was a regular and abundant migration of these fishes to and from our waters, in spring and autumn. * They came up Connecti- eut river about the 25th of April, and proceeded to the highest branches. Short- ly after they appeared in lake Champlain and the large streams which fall into it. So strong is their instinct for migration, that, in ascending the streams, they forced their passage over cataracts of sev- oral fect in height, and in opposition to the most rapid currents. They were sometimes seen to make six or seven at- templs before they sneceeded in ascend- ing the falls. When thus going up in the spring they were plump and fat, and of an excellent flavor ; and from the begin- ning of May to the middle of June they were taken in great numbers. When they arrived in the upper parts of the streams they deposited their spawn. To- wards the oud of September they returned to the ocean, but so emaciated and lean as to be of little account as an article of food. In the spring, salmon were often taken weighing from 30 to 40 pounds.
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