174 ] Fish and Their Fabulous Neighbors 



the summer school-vacation time. This is climaxed by a Boy 

 and Girl Better Fishing Rodeo Day, when prizes are awarded 

 to the boy and girl from each participating municipality who 

 bring in the heaviest fish. More than three million children have 

 thrills and fun in this contest every year. 



Shiners and "Pumpkin Seeds" 

 A COMMON CATCH 



One fish that father and son are likely to encounter in any 

 country stream is the shiner; this is among the commonest of 

 little fish in the brooks of America. It belongs to the same family 

 as the minnow, and they look very much alike, wedge-shaped as 

 seen from above, rounded in front and tapering to a point in 

 back. However, shiners are lighter in tone than minnows. A 

 delicate olive-green covers the shiner's back, bordered at the 

 sides by a line of blue-purple, with a silvery sheen on the bottom 

 that seems to reflect the varied hues of a rainbow. 



Because they are small, shiners are the prey of many kinds of 

 fish. Were it not for the countless eggs that this species lays, it 

 could never survive. Shiners live on water insects and the eggs 

 of larger fishes. You are rather likely to see them traveling in 

 schools a large group of little fish swimming against the current. 



THE PLUCKY SUNFISH 



Another attractive little resident of brooks and ponds is 

 the sunfish known also as "tobacco box," "pumpkin seed," 

 "sunny," and a variety of other names. Pumpkin seed is a good 

 description of the fish's general form because, viewed from the 

 -side, its outlines strongly suggest the seeds you find when you 

 carve a Halloween jack-o'-lantern. 



Sunfish are perhaps best known for their gameness: Though 

 small, they are fierce fighters. Not only do sunfish put up a real 

 battle when caught on a hook the males fight each other to win 

 a desired mate. It is not a fight to the death, but each fish tries 

 to mutilate its rival's fins. 



Fishing for "sunnies" with angleworms and any available equip 



