42 6 AMERICAN FISHES. 



of fishing; otherwise the fish is not now in especial favor for food. Its 

 scales are so silvery and bright, however, that it makes the best of live- 

 baits for pike or perch fishing, and has been used for this purpose from 

 times immemorial. 



" If the young dace be a bait for the old pike," said Falstaff, " I see no 

 reason in the law of nature, but I may snap at him." 



There are many species of Squalius in the streams and lakes of the far 

 West and Southwest which must in time be highly prized by our people. 

 At present, however, it is only in localities which are thickly populated 

 that the native cyprinoids and catostomoids are known and appreciated. 



Two species, Squalius iliomaleus and S. atrarius, are excessively 

 abundant in Utah Lake. The latter, as it ascends the streams to spawn 

 almost simultaneously with the Xrowi {Snluio fiirpurahis), is extremely 

 destructive to the young salmonoids. It is taken in considerable numbers 

 in seines, and is sold in the markets of Salt Lake City and other towns. 

 It reaches a length of nearly a foot. These species are known as Mullets 

 and Chubs. 



Numerous others, similar in size and habits, abound in the region be- 

 tween the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Nevada, and are used as food 

 by the Indians and by the white settlers. Among these are S. nigcr, S. 

 purpureus, S. obcsus, S. pandora, the " Pescadito " of the Rio Grande 

 region, S. tania, the "Leather-sided Minnow" of the Provo River and 

 Salt Lake Basin, and S. elongata, the " Red-sided Shiner " of the Upper 

 Missouri and the great lakes. 



President Jordan speaks briefly as follows of various other American 

 forms : 



The "Chub" or "Mullet" of San Francisco, Squalius gihbosus, 

 abounds in the Sacramento River, and is taken in great numbers. It 

 reaches a length of about a foot, and is eaten chiefly by the Chinese. 



The various species of Gila abound in the basin of the Rio Colorado and 

 Rio Gila, and are used as food in New Mexico and Arizona. They reach 

 a lenc^th of about eighteen inches. Gila clcgans, robusta and Graliatiii arc 

 the principal species. 



Ptychochilus oregoncnsis abounds in the Columbia and Sacramento and 

 their tributaries, where it is known as " Shepawl " and " Pike." It reaches 

 a length of three or four feet at least, a size much greater than that of any 

 other of our representatives of this family. A great many are brought into 

 the markets of San Francisco in the winter. A second species {Ftychochilus 

 Harfordl) accompanies P. orcgonensis in the Sacramento, and is brought 



