35^'^ Roosevelt Wild Life Annals 



Distribution Rceords. Besides the collections made near Sylvan Beach (No. 

 591) and Lewis Point (No. 501), only tiiree other collections including this 

 species were obtained from the lake. These were taken at Brewerton (No. 305, 

 one fish, October 5, 1915) ; Lakeport Bay (No. 416, one fish, June 22, 1916) and 

 Fairchild Bay (No. 483, one fish, June 30, 1916). The following are stream 

 records, and in each case the fish were caught within a quarter of a mile of the 

 stream mouth at Oneida Lake; No. 413, Douglas Creek, 11 small fish; No. 425, 

 creek at Dakins Bay, 9 small fish ; No. 460, creek at Cleveland, 2 large breeding 

 males: Nos. 447. 458, 463, creek at East Potter Bay; and No. 593. creek at 

 North Bay. i i small fish. In a small, short tributary of Chittenango Creek, one 

 was taken (No. 546). 



Enemies and Disease. Fowler ('13) found Common .Shiners in stomachs of 

 Dabchick, (Podilynibiis podieeps). Green Heron, (Butorides riresccus), and King- 

 fisher, (Ceryle alcyoii ). Audubon ( I.e., p. 13) saw a Bald Eagle (Haliactus Iciico- 

 ccphalus) secure a numl>er of these fish by wading and striking them with its 

 bill. Bones of this fish have been found in a Kingfisher's ne.st (Fowler, "14, p. 

 349). Linton ('i)~. pp. 423, 438) found the species infested with a cestode 

 parasite { Dibolliriitni lignla). This parasite was in a male fish 4 inches long 

 caught at Fulton Chain, Adirondacks. In our collections from creeks triluitary to 

 Oneida Lake we found some diseased fish (Nos. 413. 447, 593). ^lany large 

 specimens (Nos. 1509, 1519) of this species from North Pond, Boonville, N. Y., 

 collected by H. A. Malcolm, in September and October, 191 6, appear to be gen- 

 erally infested with large cestodes {Ligida sp.), some of which were removed and 

 found to be three to four inches long; one at least was as long as its Imst. < )sburn 

 ('01, p. 10) tells of a Myxo.sporid parasite attacking this minnow. LaRue ('2(1, 

 p. 285; and Butler, '19. p. 116) record larval trematodes in the eyes of this 

 species found in Douglas Lake, Michigan. 



Eeonomics. The Shiner is famous as a bait minnow. I'A-c'rmann ( '01. p. 326) 

 thinks that on the whole it is the most important of all bait niinmiws; doubtless 

 more of this sj^ecies are used, and more fish caught with it than with any other 

 minnow. Henshall ('17, p. 268) says: "The Shiner is. by all odds, the best bait 

 for the Black Bass, being quite silvery, as its name implies, and shows well in the 

 water. It is not so hardy, or long-lived on the hook, as the chub or steel back ; liut 

 on account of its white and silvery appearance it is especially desirable for turbid 

 or rough water, and on cloudy or dark days, though it is, for that matter, a good 

 bait at all times." Fowler ('08, p. 541) considers it excellent as bait. Reighard 

 ('15, p. 228) considers it important, on this account, to locate and preserve its 

 breeding grounds. Kendall ('i8, p. 517) says it is one of the best live baits. 



As a food fish it is practically useless on account of its small si/e. It is not 

 ada]5table to the ordinary aquarium for it docs not thrive. 



References. Bean, '03; Ikitler, '19; Cope, '69: I'.ilis. 11: I'vermann, '01: 

 I'^orbes, '83; Forbes and Richardson. '09; Fowler, 'oS, 'on. 13. '14: C.reeley. '27: 

 Hankinson, '08, '20; Henshall, '17: Kendall, '18: Kendall and ( iold>lionnigh. 'oS : 

 LaRue and others, '26; Leonard, '27: Lintcm. '(17: M.itluT, 'Si.: Osburn. 'oi : 

 Reighard, '15; Tracy, '10; Wilson. '02; Wright an<l Allen. '13. 



