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Smelt of the New York Lakes
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This small fish has been recorded only from Seneca and Skaneateles lakes, New York, where it is known as smelt. It doubtless inhabits others of the deep-water lakes of northern New York. Nothing is known of its habits; and its small size, 10 inches or less, renders it of little value as food.
Head 4; depth 5 to 6; eye 4; D. 9; A. 13; scales 9-83-10; maxillary 3; mandible 2; gillrakers 20+35, very long and slender, as long as eye. Body very slender, back not elevated; head rather large, its width equal to half its length; eye large, equal to snout; dorsal fin high, its height equal to 4/5 depth of body, and 1 1/2 times length of base of fin, its origin nearer base of caudal than snout, its free margin nearly straight and vertical; longest anal ray 4/5 length of base of fin; ventral long, equal to height of dorsal, its length equal to 3/4 of distance from ventral origin to vent; ventral origin midway between base of caudal and pupil; adipose fin long and slender, of uniform width which is 1/3 its length; mouth large, lower jaw projecting; teeth on tongue. Colour, grayish silvery above, sides bright silvery, white below; tips of dorsal and caudal dark.