43 6 



AMERICAN FISHES. 



I have never found this fish in really muddy water. Although called the 

 " Mud Sucker" in the brooks, it is most characteristically a fish of the 

 running streams. This species reaches a length of about two feet, and is 

 often caught in its spawning season by means of a spear or snare. It is, 

 like C. commersoni, a " boy's fish," and not worth the eating. 



It is hardy in the aquarium, and like its handsome cousin, Catostomus 

 melanops, the Striped Sucker is recommended for domestication by Cope. 



The suckers afford sport of an exciting kind to those who know how to 

 capture them with snares of horse-hair or fine wire. I have thus caught 

 them in Dutchess County, N. Y. , where this method is greatly in favor. 



Vast quantities are taken in the sluiceways of dams, and by spearing by 

 torch-light or " weequashing." 



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THE CHUB SUCKER— ERIMYZON SUCCETTA. 



The "Chub Sucker," Erimyzon succetta, the "Sweet Sucker" or 

 "Creek-fish," is one of the most abundant and widely diffused of the 

 Suckers, being found from Maine to Texas. It is one of the smallest 

 species, reaching a length of little more than a foot. A closely related 

 species abounds in Florida, where it was first collected by the author, and 

 has been named by Jordan Erimyzon Goodei. Hallock says that the 

 " Chub-sucker" is often called the " Barbel." 



The Black Horse, Cyclcptus elongatus, also called " Missouri Sucker," 

 "Gourd-seed Sucker," "Suckerel" and " Shoenaher " is found in the 

 river channels of the Ohio and Mississippi. It reaches a considerable 

 size, weighing sometimes fifteen pounds, and is said to be a much finer 



