84 FAMILIAR FISH, THEIR HABITS AND CAPTURE 



cutting off the tail portion, which contains the greater 

 quantity, just ahead of the anal fin. 



Another useless fish and a great nuisance is the 

 chub. Every angler who has faithfully fished a trout 

 stream, eagerly expecting a trout from every promis- 

 ing pool, can vouch for their lack of value, except to 

 clean his hook of bait, and prevent success. There 

 are so many kinds known under such varying names 

 that, as they are practically valueless, it would be 

 absolutely useless to attempt in any way to describe 

 them. The only value ever to be found in them is 

 that they afford unlimited food for other fish, and 

 always help to fill out the small boy's first few strings. 



There are a few fish purposely omitted from the 

 foregoing chapters. They are either species of those 

 described, the same fish under varying names, or 

 some local fish generally unknown and not worthy 

 of mention. The varieties of which descriptions 

 have been given comprise the best-known and most 

 sought-after fresh-water game and food fishes. It 

 was impossible to give all of the many various local 

 names applied to the same fish throughout the coun- 

 try, but the detailed description of each fish, and the 

 accompanying illustrations of it, should enable the 

 angler to determine quickly and correctly the name 

 and character of what good fortune has brought to 

 his hook and net. 



