whitefish

/hwuyt"fish', wuyt"-/, n., pl. (esp. collectively) whitefish, (esp. referring to two or more kinds or species) whitefishes.

1. any of several fishes of the family Coregonidae, inhabiting northern waters of North America and Eurasia, similar to the trout but having a smaller mouth and larger scales. Cf. lake whitefish, round whitefish.

2. a marine food fish of California, Caulolatilus princeps.

3. any of various silvery fishes of the minnow or carp family.

4. the beluga, Delphinapterus leucas.

[1425-75; late ME; see WHITE, FISH]

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Any of several silvery food fishes (family Salmonidae, or Coregonidae), inhabiting cold northern lakes of Europe, Asia, and North America.

Whitefish weigh about 2–5 lbs (1–2 kg); they eat insect larvae and other small animals. The Lake Superior whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis), also called whiting or shad, is the largest of the lake whitefishes. Ciscoes, or lake herring (Coregonus artedi), are herringlike food and sport fishes. The best sport fishes of the family are the Rocky Mountain whitefish (Prosopium williamsoni) and other round whitefishes.

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      any of several valuable, silvery food fishes (family Salmonidae, or in some classifications, Coregonidae), generally found in cold northern lakes of Europe, Asia, and North America, often in deep water. Whitefish are like trout in having an adipose (fleshy) fin but have larger scales, weaker teeth, and smaller mouths. They eat insect larvae and other small animals and spawn in fall.

      Lake whitefishes (Coregonus) are deep-bodied forms. The largest and most valuable, C. clupeaformis of the Great Lakes region, is known by such other names as Lake Superior whitefish, whiting, and shad. It averages about 2 kg (4.5 pounds) in weight.

      Ciscoes (cisco), or lake herring, Leucichthys (in some classifications, Coregonus) artedi, are herring-like food and sport fishes. They live in large schools and grow to a weight of about 1 kg (2.2 pounds). Some other species are called bloater and chub (q.v.).

      The round whitefishes (Prosopium) are the best sport fishes of the family. The Rocky Mountain whitefish (P. williamsoni) attains a weight of approximately 3 kg (6.6 pounds) and is often found in trout streams.

      The inconnu, cony, or sheefish (Stenodus leucichthys), an oily-fleshed salmonid, is eaten in the far northwestern regions of North America.

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