616 NATURAL HISTORY OF AQUATIC ANIMALS. 



188. THE CARP FAMILY CYPRINIDJE. 

 By DAVID S. JORDAN. 



The species of this family known as "Minnows," "Chubs," "Shiners," and "Dace" literally 

 swarm in all of the fresh waters of the United States, as in those of Europe and Africa. Most of 

 them reach a length of less than six inches. Such have of course no value as food. They are, 

 however, important as furnishing the greater part of Ihe food of all our carnivorous fresh-water 

 fishes the bass, perch, trout, pike, etc. A few of our species reach a considerable size, especially 

 in the Sierra Nevada region. Some of these become food-fish of importance. The flesh in all is, 

 however, deficient in flavor and full of small bones. Not one of our native species has any high 

 money value, and only the Carp (Cyprinus carpio), of all the family, can be compared as a food- fish 

 with the percoids and salinonoids. 



Most of the Cyprinidce are carnivorous, the smaller species feeding, upon insects, fish-spawn, 

 etc. Many large individuals are quite voracious, some of them being very destructive to young 

 trout. All of them spawn in spring, some of them running up small brooks for that purpose. 



Some of the more important of our Cyprinidce are the following: 



THE GOLDEN SHINER NOTEMIGONUS CHRYSOLEUOUS. 



This fish, the American representative of the European Bream, abounds in most rivers east of 

 the Great Plains. It is a sluggish fish, frequenting ponds, bayous, and cut-offs, preferring those 

 in which the bottom is covered with aquatic plants. It reaches a length of nearly a foot, and is 

 sometimes brought to market. 



THE CHUB OP UTAH LAKE SQTJALIUS RHOMALEUS. 



This species is excessively abundant in Utah Lake, and as it ascends the streams to spawn 

 almost simultaneously with the trout (Salmo purpuratus), it is extremely destructive to the young 

 of the latter. It is taken in considerable numbers in seines, and is sold in the markets of Salt 

 Lake City and other towns. It reaches a length of nearly a foot. 



Numerous other species, belonging to the same genus and similar in size and habits, abound 

 in the region between the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Nevada, and are used as food by the 

 Indians and by the white settlers. Among these are 8. niger, 8. purpureus, 8. obesus, 8. pan- 

 dora, etc. Species very similar abound in Europe and Asia. 



SQUALIUS GIBBOSUS. 



The "Chub" of the San Francisco markets abounds in the Sacramento River, and is taken 

 in great numbers. It reaches a length of about a foot, and is eaten chiefly by the Chinese. 



GlLA ELEGANS. 



The various species of Oila abound in the basin of the Rio Colorado and Rio Gila, and are 

 used as food in New Mexico and Arizona. They reach a length of about eighteen inches. Oila 

 elegam, robusta, and Grahami are the principal species. 



THE SACRAMENTO "PIKE" PTYCHOCHLLUS OREGONENSIS. 



This species abounds in the Columbia and Sacramento Rivers and their tributaries, where it 

 is usually known as the "Pike." It reaches a length of three or four feet at least, a size much 

 greater than that of any other of our representatives of this family. A great many are brought 

 into the markets of San Francisco in the winter. Its flesh is of course not much esteemed. A 



