SOME IMPORTANT BAIT FISHES 



LIFE HISTORY 



Description. — R o b u s t minnow 

 growing- to 5 inches in len,<rth ; nose 

 blunt, fins short and rounded; 

 large terminal mouth, no barbels; 

 very fine scales; color dark: one 

 indistinct, black lateral band on 

 side of body ; inner lining; of body 

 cavity black; intestine less than 

 twice as long as body. It reaches 

 a size of 6 inches. Like the pearl 

 dace, its bright-red sides retain 

 their brilliance most of the year 

 but are most beautiful in late 

 winter. 



Range. — This species is most 

 often found in cool, boggy creeks 

 and ponds. Its range includes 

 eastern Canada, the upper Missis- 



sippi Valley, and northern parts 

 of noi'theastern Xnited States. 



Food. — The limited food studies 

 conducted indicate that both phyto- 

 plankton and higher plants are 

 preferred. In some stomachs, 

 however, nearly half of the food 

 has been insects, and the minnow 

 is known to eat zooplankton and 

 crustaceans to a limited extent. 



Importance. — The finescale dace 

 is tenacious of life and survives 

 well in crowded containers. It is 

 satisfactory ])ike bait. Though 

 little is known of its spawning 

 habits or requirements, it is possi- 

 ble that this species could be 

 grown successfully in small boggy 

 ponds. 



NORTHERN REDBELLY DACE Chrosomus eos 



Also called Yellowbelly Dace and Leatherback. 



LIFE HISTORY 



Description. — S m a 1 1 minnows 

 averaging H inches in length; two 

 dusky lateral bands from head to 

 tail ; dark bronze color except for 

 silvery belly of females, scarlet in 

 males; mouth small and pointing 

 uj)ward at end of snout; lining of 

 body cavity black, intestine more 

 than twice as long as body. The 

 scales are minute, and this species 



has been called "'leatherback" by 

 sportsmen and minnow dealers. 



Range. — Though their ranges 

 slightly overlap, the bait dealer 

 can best distinguish the northern 

 and southern forms of the redbelly 

 dace by the location of their cap- 

 ture. The northern form is found 

 connnoidy in bog ponds and slug- 

 gisli creeks from British Columbia 

 east to Nova Scotia, southward to 



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