FISHES AND FISHERIES 249 



family are known as minnows. They are an important source 

 of food for larger fish, and are much used for bait. 



The goldfish, Carassius auratus, is a native of China. In 

 its native waters or where it escapes from domestication it is 

 of a greenish hue, the beautiful golden yellow color being 

 brought about and retained by artificial selection. In the 

 same way the many strange shapes and varieties have been 

 produced. 



The true eels, family Anguillida, are long, slender and with 

 small inconspicuous scales. They are found in most fresh 

 water streams and lakes where they feed chiefly on all kinds 

 of refuse, but they frequently destroy great numbers of shad, 

 herring and other fish, particularly at spawning time. They 

 go down the rivers to the sea to spawn. The ova are very 

 minute, and it has been estimated that a single female may 

 produce over 10,000,000 eggs. They are regarded as excellent 

 food fishes. 



The conger-eels, family Leptocephalida, are scaleless, occur 

 in the sea at moderate depths, and are little used as food in 

 America. 



The family Clupeidce includes the herring, sardines, shad, 

 menhaden and others. The herring, genus Clupea, occur in 

 both the Atlantic and Pacific, and when they come in shore at 

 spawning time they are taken in great numbers and canned as 

 sardines, dried, smoked or salted, or used fresh for food or bait. 

 The herring fisheries of the North Atlantic are particularly 

 important. It has been estimated that at least 10,000,000,000 

 herring are taken by British and American fisherman each year 

 representing a weight of more than one-third as many pounds. 

 They occur in great shoals sometimes miles in extent. 



The sardines (genus Sardinella) are fine-flavored little fish 

 with rather soft bones. Preserved in oil they form a most 

 important article of commerce. Great numbers are used for 

 bait. 



The shad (genus Alosa), although very bony, are highly 

 esteemed on account of their fine delicate flavor. They occur 

 on both coasts, having been introduced into California, and 

 ascend the rivers to spawn in May. They are very prolific, 



