The Common Chub 



Common Chub 



Semotilus atromacnlatiis (Mitchill) 



This fish closely resembles the preceding, from which it may 

 be readily distinguished, however, by the more posterior position 

 of the dorsal fin (midway between middle of eye and base of 

 caudal, and well behind ventrals), the closer crowding of the 

 scales on anterior part of body, and the presence of a large 

 black spot on base of anterior dorsal rays. The scales also are 

 somewhat smaller, the number in the lateral line being usually 

 50 to 55. Colour, dusky bluish above, side with a vague, 

 dusky band, black in the young, disappearing in the adult; belly 

 whitish, rosy in males in spring; dorsal fin always with a con- 

 spicuous black spot on base of anterior rays which is bordered 

 with red in the male; a dark vertebral line; scales everywhere 

 edged with dark punctulations; a dusky bar behind opercle; males 

 with snout coarsely tuberculate in spring; young with a small 

 black caudal spot. 



The common chub is found from Maine westward to Wyom- 

 ing and south to Georgia and Alabama, everywhere abundant, 

 particularly in small creeks, where it is often the largest and 

 most voracious inhabitant. 



It reaches a length of a foot or less and is one of the most 

 common species seen on the small boy's string. Its food value 

 is not great, though it serves a useful purpose in many a region 

 where better fish are rare. Moreover, it is an excellent bait 

 minnow for bass, walleyed pike, pickerel, and muskallunge. 

 Among the common names borne by this fish are horned dace, 

 chub, and creek chub. 



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