4:28 FISHING IN AMEEICAN WATERS. 



SECOND CLASS OF FISHES. 



SOFT-EAYED BONY FISES. (Makcoplerygii.) 



Scale of Inches. 



THE CARP FAMILY.!. Golden Carp, or Goldfish, Cyprinus auratus. 2. The Roach, 

 Leuciscus rutilus. 3. The Loach, or Beardie, CoUtis barbatula. 4. The Tench, Tin- 

 ea vulgaris. 5. The Barbel, Rarbus vulgaris. 6. New York Shiner, Cyprinus cryso- 

 leucas. 7. Common Carp, Cyprinus carpis. 8. Common New York Sucker, Catosto- 

 mus communis. 



FISHES WITH ABDOMINAL VENTRAL FINS. 



The carps may be placed at the head of the soft-rayed di- 

 vision. They are the least carnivorous of all fishes, and em- 

 brace, besides the common carp and its kindred, the several 

 species of the barbel, the gudgeon, the tench, the roach, the 

 dace and shiners, the minnows, the loach, and the American 

 suckers. They are the most abundant fish in the fresh-water 

 streams of Europe and America. 



The carp, tench, roach, and kindred fishes are said by the 

 Abbe Dom Pinchon the original fecundator and hatcher of 

 fishes by artificial means to be the most profitable to stock 

 ponds with ; and unless they should become so numerous as 

 not to find sufficient feed, introduce a few pickerel or perch. 



