io6 AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 



among and through them wherever openings occur, feeding as- 

 they go. They are found in both running and stagnant water. 

 Notwithstanding that it is the favorite food of game and other 

 predaceous fishes, it is everywhere abundant." 



Dr. Bean states that *'the roach grows to a length of one foot 

 and a weight of one and one-half pounds. It frequents sluggish 

 waters, abounding in bayous and weedy ponds as well as in tidal 

 waters. According to Jordan, its favorite shelter is the yellow 

 pond hly. It may be readily distinguished by its shape, which 

 resembles that of the shad, and by the very long anal fin, which 

 contains from fourteen to seventeen rays. The colors of this 

 fish are greenish above, and the sides silvery, with golden reflec- 

 tions. Fins usually yellowish; lower fins scarlet in breeding 

 males." 



Figure 30. 



Abramis chrysoleucas : Roach or Shiner. (From Jordan & Evermann, Bnll. 47, U. 

 S. Nat. Mus.) 



That this fish in its younger stages at least is an excellent 

 moscjuitO' control is proved by observing- that wherever it occurs 

 mosquito larvae are absent, except in places which it cannot 

 reach. Experimentally it was proved by introducing a specimen 

 into a water barrel swarming with wrigglers. In a couple oi 

 days it had devoured practically all the larvae, and was then trans- 

 ferred to another barrel, where its work was equally thorough 

 if a little slower. As against Cnlex this species is excellent, as 

 against Anopheles and some other species that favor grassy 

 areas it is of less account. Mr. Seal seems to- consider it the only 

 fresh water minnow worthy of attention in this connection. He 

 writes: "There are a number of other Cyprinoids, large and 



