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Toothed Herring; La Queche
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This fish is found in the upper Mississippi Valley and northward, and is most common nortwestward. It prefers the lakes and larger streams. It is a beautiful, attractive fish, reaching a length of 8 to 12 inches.
This and the next species, while of little value as food, are of considerable interest to the anglers of the upper Mississippi Valley states. They are eager biters and take indiscriminately the feathered lures, small spoons, grasshoppers, grubs and other natural bait.
According to Mr. W. C. Harris, they rise freely to the artificial fly in the early spring months, but seem to disregard it as warm weather approaches, at which time they favour the grass-hopper above all other lures. In middle Canada they are said to take the fly in the latter part of August, and anglers of that section prize highly the sport of casting for them. In these waters this fish is said to leap, when hooked, repeatedly in the air.
Head 4 1/2; depth 3 1/2; D. 9; A. 32; scales 6-56-7. Body closely compressed, becoming deep in the adult, the ventral edge everywhere carinated; maxillary reaching beyond middle of eye; caudal peduncle rather stouter than in the next species, and the fin not so deeply forked; back less arched and snout blunter than in the other species, the mouth larger and more oblique, the pectorals and the ventrals shorter. Colour, bluish above, sides silvery, with golden lustre.