SOME IMPORTANT BAIT FISHES 



ward in the Mississippi River valley 

 to the Tennessee River system in 

 Tennessee and northern Alabama, 

 tlie northern Ozarks in Arkansas 

 and Oklahoma, and the Missouri 

 River drainage in Kansas. 



The feeding and spawning habits 

 of this form are believed similar to 

 those of the northern species. The 



major differences seem to be a pref- 

 erence by this species for spawning 

 on gravelly bottoms and sele^-tion 

 of a more insectivorous diet. 



Importance. — In Minnesota, this 

 dace is not as hardy as the northern 

 species, but is frequently used as 

 bait for crappies in the southern 

 part of the State. 



EMERALD SHINK Nofroph oHierino/des 



LIFE HISTORY 



Description. — B o d y thin and 

 streamlined, snout blunt; scales sil- 

 very colored, with no black pig- 

 ment, loose and easily removed; 

 mouth large with thin black lips 

 running to tip of nose; dorsal fin 

 behind point of pelvic-fin attach- 

 ment; anal fin pointed (as is dor- 

 sal) and containing about 9 rays. 



Range and breeding habits. — The 

 lake emerald shiner is found in 

 large lakes and rivers, usually in 

 large schools in open waters. Its 

 lange includes the larger glacial 

 lakes in Hudson Bay, the Great 

 Lakes drainages, and the larger 

 tributaries of the Mississippi River. 



The emerald shiner spa\yns over 

 gravel shoals from the middle of 

 May to early June. The fish aver- 

 age 1% inches at the end of the first 



year and 3 inches at the end of the 

 second. 



Food. — The food of the emerald 

 shiner consists largely of insects, 

 most of which are terrestrial. This 

 shiner has been known to feed on 

 entomostracans, algae, small fish, 

 fish eggs, terrestrial insects, aquatic 

 insects, and oligochaete worms. 

 The studies of several workei^s with 

 the lake emerald shiner show that, 

 in general, the food percentages are 

 as follows: Water fleas, 26.8; algae, 

 7.}); water boatmen, 1.0; nuiyflies, 

 l.;^>; caddisflies, 2.1; chironomids, 

 0.7; terrestrial insects, 7.9; miscel- 

 laneous insects, 26.3; fish eggs, 2.9; 

 crustacean debris, 10.7 ; and miscel- 

 laneous, 3.2. 



Importance. — The emerald shiner 

 is often used for bait despite the 

 fact that it dies quickly and its 



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