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Northern common shiner 



Northern common shiner 



Notropis cornutus frontalt s (Agassiz) 



General description. — Color silvery on sides, white 

 on belly whon alive; scales large, high, and narrow on 

 side of the body; no barbel; dorsal fin inserted directly 

 over pelvics; size of 8 inches attained by males. 



This minnow is common in nearly all cool creeks 

 and^ lakes of northeastern United States. It is used 

 widely for bait but is one of the less hardy species. 

 It often grows to a length of 8 inches or more. 



As far as is known, it spawns only on stream 

 riffles over gravelly bottoms but its abundance in some 

 inland lakes may mean that it is successful in spawning 

 on gravel shoals in quiet waters. The spawning season 

 is short in Michigan, extending from the latter part 

 of May into June; it begins somewhat earlier in Minne- 

 sota's western waters. Studies in Michigan have shown 

 that the common shiner grows about 2 inches the first 

 year and requires 2 or 3 years to reach maturity. 



Little or no success has been obtained in stripping 

 the eggs from this fish. To raise this species, 

 rearing ponds should be arranged to allow adult fish 

 to swim upstream from the ponds to lay their eggs. The 

 young will then drift downstream and grow in the ponds 

 as do other species. 



Only in the most recent food studies have the 

 subspecies of this minnow been considered separately. 

 Here the food habits of the northern frontalt s and the 

 southern c hrysocephalus are considered together. 



The common shiner is omnivorous in its feeding 

 habits. It has been known to Sat algae, insects, fish, 

 plants, entomostracans, hydrachnids, protozoans, and 

 desmids. Stomachs of this species have contained in 

 some instances 100 percent insects; in others, 100 

 percent algae and plants. The studies of several 



