THE FISHES OF GEORGIAN BAY 21 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 39b 



inhabiting these pools, though those open to the outside water sometimes contain 

 other species. The fish lurks under the stones and is only taken by strategy. 

 It is easily recognised by the spindle-like body, general dark coloration, and very 

 small scales, or if examined closely by the minute barbel placed behind the angle 

 of the mouth. 



Length 2J inches, the specimens commonly taken much smaller. Body 

 spindle-shaped, not compressed. Depth 5*1 to 5-8. Color very dark olivaceous 

 above, with black vertebral streak and dark lateral band, the latter not conspicuous 

 except in young specimens. Sides with dark points on the scales and with more 

 or less of fine blotching. Head long and pointed, 3 -3 to 4. Eye 4-3 to 4-6 in 

 head; in snout l-G to 2 "4. Snout in head 2«1 to 2-6. Mouth wholly inferior, 

 the snout projecting well beyond the tip of the lower jaw. A minute barbel 

 behind the fleshy lobe that forms the angle of the mouth. Dorsal fin with 8 rays, 

 inserted distinctly behind the ventrals. Anal with 7 rays. Scales minute, 12 

 or 13, 68 to 72, 9 to 12 (usually 10). 35 to 37 oblique rows in front of the dorsal 

 fin. Lateral line complete, almost straight. 



Genus Pimephales. 



Of the two known species, P. promelas and P. notatus, the latter is reported 

 by Meek and Clark ('02) as more abundant in the inland localities examined, 

 though P. promelas was found at Hawkstone, Lake Simcoe, and at Trout Creek, 

 a tributary of Lake Nipissing. Up to the present only P. notatus has been taken 

 in Georgian Bay. With the exception of the red-bellied dace {Chrosomus erythro- 

 gaster), the natural occurrence of which in Georgian Bay is doubtful, this species 

 is the only representative in this region of the herbivorous or mud-eating group 

 of minnows, represented elsewhere by the species of Campostoma, Hybognathus 

 and other genera. 



Pimephales notatus, Rafinesque. 



(Blunt-nosed minnow) 



{Plate II, fig. 8) 



With the exception of the redfin minnow (Notropis cornutus) , this is the most 

 abundant minnow of the region. It occurs in collections from all points from 

 Waubaushene to Byng Inlet, in inland waters, and from the Giant's Tomb Island. 

 Georgian Bay specimens differ in some details from those described by Forbes 

 and Richardson ('08) from Illinois. They are rather dark, and the usual number 

 of scales before the dorsal fin is smaller by about two rows. The intestine, described 

 by these authors as twice the length of the body, is in the specimens examined 

 rather shorter, the combined length of stomach and intestine, or of the intra- 

 peritoneal part of the alimentary canal, being in none equal to twice the length 

 of the body. 



