The Dace Minnow and the Cat-fish. 255 only phases of one fish; at all events, the nearest description of our chub is recorded under the head of the Leuciscus nitidus by Dekay; and what he calls the Bay Shiner (L. chrysopterus), and Storer the "silvery dace,Ӡ seem to be only seasonal conditions of the same species. There is here a fine field for the ichthyologist, as the study of the Cyprinide of America requires especial care and attention, being beset with many difficulties, which only a large experience, and comparisons of many individual specimens, will overcome. The New York SHINER (C. chrysoleucas) of Mitchell is very common in all the fresh-water streams; it never attains above six or eight inches in length, and is only useful as bait in the capture of more savoury fish; the same may be said of that pest to the angler familiarly known as the RED-FIN (L. cornutus), and its less beautiful but larger congener the ROACH DACE (L. pulchellus) of Storer. I have several times captured with bait a small dace, olive green, with a golden dorsal stripe, agreeing with the BANDED DACE of Dekay. The smaller dace and minnows are numerous. I could identify the BLACK-NOSED DACE or Brook Minnow (L. atronasus). There is another small LEUCISCUS often found in brooks, about three inches in length, eyes large and prominent, irides silvery, pupils black, tail deeply forked; above olive, with a dark line down the back; iridescent lines on sides above the lateral line, which is single; scales on body large; lower parts silvery white and shining; tips of the fins orange. The MANY and the Two SPINED STICKLEBACK (G. occidentalis and biaculatus) are both plentiful, and like the dace, chub, etc., deposit their spawn in July. The ugly CAT-FISH (P. catus) sometimes attains a weight of one pound. It is not plentiful, but is often found in the same haunts with the Yellow Perch. Like some of the chubs, it displays a wonderful tenacity of life, and, although frozen "New York Fauna," p. 211, plate 30, fig. 95. hard, may be recovered by careful thawing. This may be illustrated with any of the fishes which, after several hours' exposure to a very low temperature, may be restored to life provided the freezing is rapid after emersion and the thawing very gradual. The Pike has not hitherto appeared in any of our waters, although, as before noticed, it has been introduced into the head-waters of the St. Croix River on the western frontier, and is rapidly exterminating the cyprinids and fry of the indigenous fishes. The most common eel of our fresh waters is Anguilla tenuirostris of Dekay, which is said to go and come from the sea regularly. This, however, seems doubtful; at all events the majority are sedentary in the lakes, and are there captured by the Indians by means of baskets called eel-pots. The larger specimens seem to differ considerably in the shape of the head, and some greatly exceed the usual recorded dimensions of the fish. Whether the A. Bostoniensis of Lesueur is identical with the former I cannot say, but shall not be surprised if further comparisons show more than one species inhabiting the rivers of this province. It is a remarkable circumstance that, contrary to the recorded habits of the fish elsewhere, the AMERICAN HAKE (Merlucius albidus) frequents several lakes at the head-waters of the great reaches communicating with the St. John near its delta, and is captured in numbers through the ice with hook and bait. Being essentially a salt-water species, its thus resorting to inland fresh and brackish waters would seem to indicate that it does so, if not for spawning purposes, for particular food, which (according to persons who catch them) is the young of the gaspereau. Many of the marine fishes are very interesting, and of great economic value; but, as I have not had sufficient opportunities of gaining a close acquaintance with this branch of the local ichthyology, I will merely enumerate a few of the most important food fishes. Although not so plentiful as in the days Food Fishes of the Atlantic Coast. 257 before the advent of the whites, still the following are abundant in the bays, creeks, and sea basins around the coasts, and furnish valuable and staple articles of commerce. The Norway Haddock has its southern limit about New York, and is not common; but the American fish of that name is exceedingly numerous. The Spring and Autumn Mackerels and Herrings refer to several species; all are famous as articles of food, and spawn on our shores, and are especially plentiful in the Bay of Fundy. Two sorts of Cod and Hake, the Pollock, Tusk, Halibut, Flounder, and Skate, make up a bounteous supply of food fishes scarcely surpassed in quantity or quality by those of any other country. Indeed it requires only a glance at the map to be convinced of the advantages offered to the finny tribes in the way of food and shelter. S |