Records, ages, and growth of the mooneye, Hiodon tergisus, of the Great Lakes

Mooneyes (Hiodon tergisus) are very scarce in the upper three Great Lakes since only four specimens have been received from Lake Michigan, one from Lake Huron, and none from Lake Superior. The published statistics of the mooneyes are erroneous. Those of 1931 of Lake Michigan were perhaps chubs (Coregonus spp.) and those of Lake Huron of 1929 were also chubs and of 1934, 1949, and 1951 were gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum) but since 1956 were alewives (Alosa pseudoharengus). Mooneyes are common in Lakes Erie and Ontario and perhaps in Lake St. Clair but are commercialized only in the States of Ohio and Michigan. Virtually all Lake Erie mooneyes were caught in trap nets, pound nets, and seines in less than 35 feet of water. Their life-history data collected in 1927-31 included lengths and weights of age-groups I-VII, calculated increments and lengths based on both anterior radii and lateral diameters of scales, length-weight relationships, and sexual maturity. Apparently mature specimens exceeded 8.8 inches, 3.25 ounces, and age-group I.