432 



AMERICAN FISHES. 



about ten inches. It assists to swell the urchin's string, but has no tangi- 

 ble importance as a food-fish. Its flesh spoils very quickly after the fish 

 is taken from the water, hence the name " Rot-gut Minnow," applied to it 

 in Alabama. A large part of the food of the black bass, trout and other 

 predatory fish is contributed by the Shiner and by its numerous congeners. 



Minnulus ruhricroccus, a species inhabiting the headwaters of the 

 Tennessee and Savannah Rivers is a very lovely species found by Cope and 

 Jordan in rock brooks at the foot of cascades — a species well adapted for 

 acquarium culture in the north. 



Allmrnus the Bleak, Ablette or Uckelei of Europe, called by 

 Walton the " fresh-water sprat," is represented in America by two species 

 of the genus RicJiardsoniits, which occurs in the Columbia River and north- 

 ward. The Bleak is chiefly of interest as the source of the pearly matter, 

 or Essence iV Oriefif, which is prepared from its scales and used in the 

 manufacture of false pearls. In Pomerania one hundred and ten pounds 

 of Uchelei yield about two and one-fifth pounds of scales, worth about 

 three dollars in commerce. In other words, 10,000 fish are destroyed to 

 make one pound of pearl material. Is not this worse than killing birds for 

 feathers? This industry has been carried on in France for over two hun- 

 dred years. The product of the Moselle in 1S60 was worth 5,000 francs. 

 The scales of the Roach and Dace are also used. 



THE BARBEL OF EUEOPE. 



The Barbel is somewhat like our Tarpum, since it is pursued by fisher- 

 men and caught chiefly for the pleasure of catching it. 



"This fish," says Walton," is of a fine cast and handsome shape, with 

 small scales, which are placed after a most exact and curious manner, and, 

 as I told you, may be rather said not to be ill than to be good meat ; the 



