98 



spawn early the next summer. Those hatching late in 

 the season pass the first winter as small fish and 

 require most of the next summer to reach matui*ity, 

 often not spawning until their third summer. 



The experimental propagation of this species in 

 Michigan has shown that 128,000 fish can be raised per 

 acre. The red-bellied dace is best suited to cool 

 waters. This species does not reach a length of more 

 than 2i inches and is valuable as bait for panfish only. 



Studies made in the St. Lawrence watershed of New 

 York indicate that this species is mainly herbivorous, 

 that it feeds almost entirely upon diatoms and other 

 algae, on the remains of seed plants, and only to a 

 limited degree on insects and animal plankton. 



Southern red-bellied dace 



Chrosomus erythrogaster (Rafinesque) 



The southern red-bellied dace differs from the 

 northern species in its more horizontal mouth, longer 

 snout, and narrower caudal peduncle. It is more 

 southern in range and has a decided preference for cool, 

 gravelly creeks from southern Minnesota through south- 

 eastern Michigan into West Virginia, south to Oklahoma. 



In Minnesota this dace is not so hardy as the 

 northern species but is frequently used as bait in the 

 southern part of the State. 



Feeding and spawning habits are believed similar 

 to those of the northern species. The major differences 

 seem to be a preference forspawning on gravelly bottoms 

 and selection of a more insectivorous diet. 



Western golden shiner 



Notemigonus chryso leucas ■ auratus (Rafinesque) 



General description. — Body thin and flat from side 

 to side, deep from top to bottom; adult golden in color, 

 scales loose and easily visible; mouth small and 

 upturned with no barbels; base of the anal fin long, 

 containing many more than the customary 7 or 8 rays; 

 dorsal fin far behind the pelvic fins; dorsal and anal 

 fins sharply pointed; sharp ridge or keel on belly 

 between pelvic and anal fins; lateral line curves down- 

 ward and follows ventral body contour. 



