588 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



20. Rhiniciithys cafcaractae (Cuvier & Valenciennes). Long-nosed Dace. 

 Several specimens obtained by ns near St. Jobnsbnry, in Sleeper and Passumpsic 



rivers; not seen elsewhere in Vermont by us, nor is it recorded by Mr. Thompson. 



21. Rhiniciithys atronasus (Mitchill). Black-nosed Dace. 



Sleeper River at St. Jobnsbnry, 17 sjiecimens 1} to 21 inches long; Passumpsic 

 River at St. Jobnsbnry, 1 specimen 1J inches long; Clyde River at Newport, 18 

 specimens 2 to 2| inches long; Lake Memphremagog, 2 specimens 2 and 2 J inches 

 long. Next to Notropis cornuius, this is probably the most common minnow in 

 Vermont. Concerning it Mr. Thompson says : 



"This species is quite common in most of the streams in Vermont, and particu- 

 larly so in those that fall directly into Lake Champlain. It is an active, lively little 

 fish, and on account of the stripes on its sides, the colors of which are changeable, 

 according to the direction of the light falling upon them, it is one of the most beautiful 

 of fishes. When fully grown, this fish is only from 2| to 3 inches long, and though 

 found in great numbers, its diminutive size renders it of no account as an article of 

 food. It is chiefly sought to be used as bait for pike and other large fishes." 



22. Couesius plumbeus (Agassiz). 



From Clyde River at Newport we obtained 11 specimens of this species, 2f to '1$ 

 inches long. It was not seen by us elsewhere in the State, but it doubtless occurs in 

 all the clearer, colder streams. 



23. Exoglossum maxillingua (LeSueur). Cutlip Minnow; Nigger Chub. 



In 1818 Rafinesque described a specimen of this species from Lake Chanrplain 

 under the name Exoglossum nigrescens. Whether his type came from the Vermont 

 side of the lake we do not know. We have obtained it at Plattsburg, and it doubt- 

 less will be found in Vermont waters. 



Family ANGUILLIDJE. The Eels. 



24. Anguilla chrysypa Rafinesque. Common Eel. 



Mr. Thompson gives three species of eels (Murcena rxdnaris, M. bostoniensis, and 

 M. argentea) as being found in the waters of Vermont. All, however, belong in the 

 one species, which appears to be common in Lake Champlain and the Connecticut. 

 Concerning it Mr. Thompson says: 



"The common eel, found in Connecticut River and in the streams and ponds in 

 this State on the east side of the Green Mountains, I suppose to belong to this 

 species. Not having obtained specimens of this and the following species, I can 

 only give Dr. Storer's description of them. In some of the ponds this eel grows to a 

 very large size. They are frequently taken at the outlet of Barnard Pond, weighing 

 8 or 10 pounds." 



Family HIODONTIDiE. The Moon-eyes. 



25. Hiodon tergisus LeSueur. 2Ioon-eye; " Winter Shad.'' 



Thompson says this is often called the whitefish by the fishermen, and that it is 

 considered a very good fish for the table, but that it is not taken in Lake Chanrplain 

 very plentifully. 



Family CLUPEIDiE. The Shad. 



26. Alosa sapidissima (Wilson). Common Shad. 



Concerning the occurrence of the shad in Vermont, Mr. Thompson remarks : 

 "This excellent and valuable fish, which is common both to Europe and America, 

 was formerly taken in Connecticut River in large quantities, particularly in the 

 neighborhood of Bellows Falls. It is still taken plentifully in Merrimac River 

 and in many other streams which flow into the Atlantic Ocean from New England. 

 I can not learn that it has ever been taken in Lake Champlain, but on account of 

 some resemblance in form and appearance between this species and the Coregonns 

 albas, [_C. chipciformis'] or whitefish, the name of shad, or lake shad, is here very 

 generally applied to the latter." 





