352 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



liue slightly curved, complete, with about 38 to 41 scales. Tlio two speci- 

 meus from the lake were somewhat darker and richer in color, with body and 

 caiidal peduncle more slender. These specimens are of the form described 

 recently by Eigcnmann & Eigenmann as .Vo/ro^j/s ncoplfer. 



10. Hybopsis kentuckiensis (Rafinesque). li'ivcr Chnh. Little Minnesota River 



at Browns Valley, 2 specimens, both small. This species apparently does 

 not thrive in tliese waters as it does farther south. 



11. Percopsis guttatus Agassiz. Trout Perch. Little Minnesota River at J5ro\vu8 



Valley, rare; Rig Stone Lake at Creager's farm, 20 specimens. This is 

 apparently the mo.st common species of small fish at the last-named place, 

 where it is highly prized for bait by the local fishermen. It was taken near 

 shore in about 1 feet of water and usually from over a sandy bottom. 



12. Pundulus diaphanus (Le Sueur). MndAlimiow; Top Minnoiv. Big Stone Lake 



at Creager's farm, 7 specimens; Big Stone Lake at Ortonville, 12, taken in 

 shallow water near the shore. Ovaries of females filled with eggs, some of 

 which were ripe, while others were very small. The intestinal canal was 

 filled with a peculiar pin-shaped parasite about a quarter of an inch long. 



13. Lucius luciiis (Linnseus). Northern Pickerel ; Pike. Little Minnesota River at 



Browns Valley, 8 large specimens; Big Stone Lake at Ortonville, 3; Big 

 Stone Lake at Creager's farm, 12. This is the most abundant food fish of this 

 region. 



14. Eucalia inconstans (Kirtland). Brook Stickleback. Big Stone Lake at OTton 



ville. This species does not inhabit the lake to any extent. 



15. Pomoxis annularis Rafinesque. Bed-eye; Straw Bass; Calico Bass. Big Stone 



Lake at Creager's farm, common. An excellent food-fish, thriving in these 

 waters. 



16. Lepomis pallidus (Mitchill). Big Stone Lake at Ortonville, common. Great 



numbers are taken with hook and line ; worms or insects are used for bait. 



17. Lepomis megalotis (Rafinesque). Blue-gill. Taken only at Ortonville. Num- 



bers and habits about the same as those of L. pallidus. Several young speci- 

 mens taken with the seine. 



18. Micropterusdolomieu(Lacepede). Small-mouth Black Bass. Little Minnesota 



River at Browns Valley, 3 specimens ; Big Stone Lake at Creager's farm, 5. 

 This species was not abundant and only very small specimens were taken. 



19. Micropterussalmoides(Lac6p&de). Large-mouth Black Hass. Little Jlinnesota 



River at Browns Valley, common ; Big Stone Lake at Creager's farm, 12 

 specimens ; Big Stone Lake at Ortonville, common. One of the most abun- 

 dant game fishes and one to which the lake seems particularly well adapted. 



20. Etheostoma aspro (Cope &, Jordan). Black-sided Darter. Little Minnesota 



River at Browns Valley, 5 large specimens. Head 4 ; depth 5^ ; dorsal ix or 

 x-11 or 12 ; anal 11,7. 



21. Etheostoma nigrum Rafinesque. Little Minnesota River at Browns Valley, 2 



specimens; Big Stone Lake at Creager's farm, 15; Big Stone Lake at Orton- 

 ville, common. Color dark. Head and shoulders heavy, tapering to the 

 long caudal peduncle; cheeks and oper(tles covered with scales; lateral line 

 with 40 to 52 scales. A specimen from the outlet of JMg Stone Lake is some- 

 what peculiar and may bo described as follows: Head, 3^ (without fiap, 3^); 

 depth, 5|; eye, 4i (4 without tlap), equaling snout. D. viii-12; A. 1, 8; 

 scales 4-49-5. Body slender, resembling Etheostoma olmstedi in general form, 

 head moderate, caudal peduncle long and slender; mouth large, nearly hori- 

 zontal; premaxillaries protractile; maxillary reaching vertical of pupil; 

 gill-membranes scarcely connected. Cheeks naked or nearly so; opercles, 

 nape, and breast scaled, belly with ordinary scales; lateral liue complete, 

 slightly arched in an anterior ])ortion. Dorsal fin high, longest spine about 

 1| in head, soft portion a little higher; anal rays about 2 in head, anal fin 

 smaller than soft dorsal; its base Ij in that of soft dorsal; pectoral long, as 



