SOME IMPORTANT BAIT FISHES 



age vats, the storage water should 

 not exceed 70° F. During the first 

 24 hours of storage, the fish are 

 highly excitable and react violently 

 to any sudden jar or fast-moving 

 object. It is well for the operator 

 to take these factors into considera- 



tion and to approach the storage 

 tanks quietly when attempting to 

 handle the fish. If he plans to con- 

 fine the salable golden shiners for 

 a 2- or 3-week period in holding 

 tanks, it is desirable to maintain a 

 water temperature of about 60° F. 



GOLDFISH Carassius auratus 



Also called Indiana, Baltimore, and Missouri Minnow. 



LIFE HISTORY 



Description}. — Mouth small but 

 not sucker shaped; no teeth in the 

 jaws; dorsal fin with more than 10 

 rays; a smooth spine at the leading 

 edge of the dorsal and anal fins; 

 scales large; no scales on the head, 

 cheeks, or gill covers. The male de- 

 velops tiny tubercles on the sides of 

 the head and front edges of the pec- 

 toral fins during the mating season. 

 In natural waters, goldfish grow to 

 a weight of 3 to 5 pounds. 



Range and hreeding habits. — The 

 goldfish was originally imported 

 from Eurasia as an ornamental 

 aquai-ium lisli, but has since been 

 introduced into ii:itui'al waters by 



well-meaning persons who tired of 

 their care. 



Goldfish normally start spawn- 

 ing when the water reaches 60° F., 

 and continue to spawn throughout 

 the summer if the temperature re- 

 mains above 60° and the fish are 

 not overcrowded. The favorite 

 spawning time is right after sun- 

 I'ise on sunny days. The female 

 lays the eggs on grass, roots, leaves, 

 or similar objects. The eggs are 

 adhesive and stick to any object 

 they touch. The male fertilizes the 

 eggs innnediately. The eggs are 

 clear when laid and turn brown as 

 t hey develop. Dead eggs are cloudy 

 and opaque. The eggs hatch in 6 

 to 7 (lavs in water of 60° ^. A fe- 



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