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TSorthern pearl dace 



Northern pearl dace 



Margari scus margari ta nachtrt ebi (Cox) 



General desc ript ion. — Robust minnow; snout blunt 

 and head rounded; small but visible scales; mouth not 

 extended behind eye; color a dusky silver mottled by 

 darker scales; no large nuptial tubercles, no black 

 pigment spots. on fins. 



The pearl dace prefers cool lakes, bogs, and 

 creeks. Its range is through all Canada east of the 

 Rockies and northern United States to New York. 



This species probably lays its eggs early in 

 spring. The bright, red-sided breeding males are 

 highly colored from early February until late spring. 

 The red fades gradually from their sides until it is 

 nearly gone in the fall. 



This species is considered excellent bait. It 

 withstands excessive crowding, water of low oxygen 

 (0.02 p. p.m.) content, and warm temperature: 4 gallons 

 of this species, together with fine-scaled dace (Pfrille 

 neogaea) , have been carried in a 5-gallon can for 

 nearly 2 hours at a temperature of 40° F. without the 

 loss of a single specimen. The northern pearl dace 

 grows to a length of at least Sg inches in 1 year, and 

 reaches a maximum of 7 inches. It is possible that 

 this species could be reared successfully in artificial 

 ponds, and that bait sufficiently large for catching 

 panfish could be raised in one summer. Because it 

 makes a fine growth in northern boggy waters, this fish 

 could be raised in northern areas in places where land 

 is cheap. The food habits of the pearl dace have 

 received little attention. From the studies available 

 for this minnow it seems probable that insects are 

 preferred, but the fish has been .known to feed on 

 phytoplankton, mollusks, surface drift, and watermites. 

 For dealers with little working capital, this species, 

 together with the fine-scaled dace, seems to offer 

 excellent opportunities. 



