MINNOWS AS BAITS 



" snout," and the specific from the Latin, cata- 

 racts, the original type of the fish being from 

 Niagara Falls) seldom grows longer than five 

 inches, and is a favorite bait. It has a little bar- 

 bel or feeler on the lower jaw ; the coloration is 

 greenish olive above, paler below, with numerous 

 dusky blotches or spots. The back is often almost 

 black, and the very young specimens have a dusky 

 lateral shade. On the males in the spring, the 

 lips, cheeks, and lower fins are crimson in color. 



The " black-nosed dace " is a close brother to 

 the one described above, in fact it has the same 

 generic name, the specific, atronasus, being from 

 the Latin, and meaning " black " and " nose." 

 Its length seldom exceeds three inches, and the 

 color of its nose will identify it. 



Of the other fresh-water minnows used, partic- 

 ularly in New England, there are seven species, 

 popularly called "fat-heads" or "blackheads," 

 plumbeous minnows, brindled minnows, cut-lips, 

 or nigger chubs, — all of which belong to the carp 

 family. The first may be known by the large 

 black bar across the first fin on the back in the 

 adult, but appearing as a simple dusky shade in 

 the young. The average length of the adult is 

 about two and one-half inches. 



The second (the plumbeous minnow) may be 

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