170 Conservation Department 



shallow parts. They come insliore in bays and creek mouths to spawn, and 

 most of those caught are taken at tliis time. Seines are used in Cattaraugus 

 creek and the Niagara river. Adults full of eggs were taken as late as June 

 27 at Dunkirk bay, although many others had spawned by this date. A 

 series of {).") young taken August 1 from Black creek, near Buffalo, showed 

 a variation in size from iJ to 3 inches, additional evidence of a long spawning 

 period. The age of these specimens was checked V)v scale examination. 



33. Corassius aurotus (Linnaeus). — Goldfish, gold carp. (Plate 3.) Com- 

 mon in Lake Erie in shallow parts, especially bays and creek mouths. Like 

 carp it is an introduced fish. It reaches a weight of about 2 pounds but is 

 of questional)le economic value in the lake. Gold colored individuals are 

 less common than Vnown ones. It hybridizes with the carp, and several of 

 the intermediates were collected. The numbers of goldfish in Lake Erie have 

 increased to a j>()int where the fish has become a nuisance, as it competes 

 with many other ])ottom-feeding species for food. Young were Aery common 

 in Dunkirk harbor during late summer. They much resembled young carp 

 in appearance, size, and habits. The habitat of the young (shallow, weedy 

 places) and the fact that they grow very fast makes it unlikely that they 

 would be important items in the food of predacious fish. 



34. Xocomis higuttatus (Kirtland). — ^Horny-head, river chub. Uncommon. 

 Restricted to the eastern part of the drainage, where it is locally common 

 in many warm streams of the Tonawanda creek system. 



35. Xocomis micropogon (Cope). — Crested chub, river chub. Common in 

 warm streams throughout the region, not ranging into headwaters. This 

 is a large minnow, and is sometimes cauglit on hook and line by boys. It 

 is a nest building fish, each breeding male building a large heap of pebbles 

 l)y j)icking them up, one by one. Such a nest was observed, July 9, in Silver 

 creek, and the male guarding it was seen to spawn with each one of several 

 females. Pebbles were ])iled on the nest after each spawning act, so that the 

 eggs were covered. An e^g, measured 2 millemeters after preservation in 

 formalin. The Avater temperature at this date was 83 degrees. 



36. Erimnstax (UsHxmiJifi (Kirtland).* — Spotted chub. Rare. A record 

 from a Lake Erie triliutary in southern Ontario is cited by Hubbs. 



37. Erinemus storeriamift (Kirtland). — Storer's chub. Common in Lake 

 Erie and at mouths of tributary creeks. This is one of the largest, native 

 species of the minnow family in the region, reaching a size of over 10 inches. 

 In the lake, it ranges out into rather deep water, sometimes l>eing taken in 

 gill nets. Apparently, it spawns quite late, as females taken June 21 were 

 nearly ready to spawn. 



38. Erinemus Ju/alitius (Cope). — Big-eyed chub. Rare. This rather 

 insignificant appearing fish is found in the lower courses of streams of the 

 southern and eastern part of the area. It was most common in the Buffalo 

 creek system, frequenting shallow, mud flats. Avhere the current was moderate. 

 Apparently, this is about the eastern limit of its range. 



39. Rhmichthi/fi ntronasus lunatus (Cope). — Black-nosed dace.i Abundant. 

 Widely distributed, occurring in })ractically every small stream, warm or cold. 

 It is rare in the lower courses of streams and occurs in Lake Erie only as a 

 stray. One of the common fish of trout streams. Spawning was observed 

 June 17, in Little Bufialo creek at the head of a riffle, where there was clean 

 gravel. In at least one instance, a male Avas seen to crowd a female against 

 a small stone during a spaAvning. A few eggs found in the gravel Avere prob- 

 ably, but not certainly, eggs of this species. 



40. Rhinirhthyfi caiaractae (Cuvier & Valenciennes). — Long-nosed dacei. 

 Abundant. Occurs in nearly all streams, but does not inhabit the headwater 

 streams as often as does nironasiis. It is common along the shore of Lake 

 Erie in rocky places, and in streams it is most common in the riffles Avhere 

 there are stones. It inhabits a few trout streams. 



41. S'emotUvs ntromncuJntus atroniarnhitiis (Mitchill). — Horned dace. 2 

 chub. Abundant. Inhabits [)ractically everv stream. It is less common in 



* Illustrated in Genesee Survey Report, 1926. 

 ' Illustrated in Oswego Survey Report, 1927. 



