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Humpback Whitefish
This whitefish occurs in Alaska from Bristol Bay northward, where it is said to be not uncommon. According to Dr. Bean, Nelson's whitefish has long been known from Alaska, but it has been confounded with a Siberian species, C. syrok, from which it is really very different. The Russian name is Korabati, while the Tenneh tribes of the Yukon call it Kolokuh. Dr. Dall speaks of it as a common species, and says it is rather bony, inferior in flavour, and that it is generally used for dog-food except in times of scarcity.
Head 5; depth 4; maxillary 4; D. 12; A. 12; scales 10-88-8; gillrakers 26 in number, their length 2 in eye. Allied to C. clupeiformis, but distinguished by its arched and compressed back. Colour, plain whitish.
GENUS ARGYROSOMUS AGASSIZ
The Lake Herrings or Ciscoes
This genus is very close to Coregonus, from which it differs in the larger mouth, and more produced jaws, the premaxillaries being placed nearly horizontally, and the lower jaw projecting decidedly beyond them. The gillrakers are very long and slender. with about 30 on the lower limb of the first arch; vertebrae 55, These characters are associated with greater voracity, and, in general, greater activity of the species.
The species of Argyrosomus are numerous in northern parts of Asia, Europe, and America, and all are valued as food, though not held in as high esteem as the species of true whitefishes.
a. Body long, herring-shaped; scales small, uniform, the free edges convex.
b. Lower fins pale or merely tipped with dusky; scales punctate with dark points.
c. Eye large, not much, if any, shorter than the snout in adult; its length 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 in head.
d. Head long, 4 in body; body slender, its depth 5 to 6 in length; distance from occiput to snout 2 1/4 in distance from occiput to dorsal; teeth on tongue; maxillary 3 in head; osmeriformis, 131
dd. Head long, 4 1/2 in length; distance from occiput to snout nearly half its distance from front of dorsal fin.
e. Maxillary 3 1/4 to 3 1/2 in head; gillrakers long and numerous, about 16+30; .......................artedi
ee. Maxillary longer, 2 3/5 to 3 in head; gillrakers fewer, about 14+25; hoyi
ddd. Head shorter, about 5 in length; distance from occiput to snout about 2/3 distance to front of dorsal fin; .......................pusillus
cc. Eye small, shorter than snout, about 5 in head.
f. Head short, about 5 in length.
g. Body rather slender, the depth equal to length of head; distance from occiput to snout 2 1/2 to 2 2/3 in its distance from dorsal; base of dorsal short; ........................lucidus
gg. Body deep, the depth in adult greater than length of head; distance from occiput to snout 2 1/3 to 2 1/2 in its distance from dorsal; base of dorsal longer; ............................lauretta
ff. Head long, 4 to 4 1/2 in length; ...........prognathus
bb. Lower fins all blue-black; ......................nigripinnis
aa. Body short, deep, compressed, the curve of back similar to that of belly; scales large, larger forward and closely imbricated, the free margins scarcely convex.......................tullibee