Whitefish is a group of fishes that live in fresh water. Whitefish are found in many lakes and streams in the northern regions of North America, Europe, and Asia. They are related to trout and salmon, but they have larger scales than those fish. They also have smaller teeth than trout and salmon. Some whitefish are toothless. Whitefish are among the most important freshwater food fishes.
The lake whitefish, which lives in North American lakes and rivers, is the most valuable species (kind). It has a long body, a cone-shaped snout, and a forked tail. It lacks teeth, and its upper jaw projects beyond the lower jaw. Most lake whitefish weigh about 4 pounds (1.8 kilograms). But individuals weighing up to 20 pounds (9 kilograms) have been caught in the Great Lakes. The fish eat insects and shellfish and usually live in deep water.
The lake herring, also called cisco, is another type of whitefish. It is found in the Great Lakes and is a valuable food fish. It is more abundant than the lake whitefish. Another excellent food fish is the mountain whitefish. It lives in mountain lakes and streams in the western United States. The round whitefish lives in the lakes of New England and the Adirondacks, in the Great Lakes, and in rivers and streams in northern Canada. This fish also is commercially valuable.
