Any one of several species of
Coregonus, a genus of excellent food fishes allied to the salmons. They inhabit the lakes of the colder parts of North America, Asia, and Europe. The largest and most important American species (
Coregonus clupeiformis) is abundant in the Great Lakes, and in other lakes farther north. Called also
lake whitefish, and
Oswego bass. [
1913 Webster]
" Various other fishes are locally called whitefish, as the silver salmon, the whiting (a), the yellowtail, and the young of the bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix)."
[1913 Webster]