RANGELEY LAKES, MAINE: FISHES, ANGLING, AND FISH CULTURE. 517 



Hampshire, in 1904. On July 22 a few specimens were taken at the sluice, on the Dead 

 Cambridge River. 



It is a handsome little fish, attaining about 4 inches in length. It feeds upon small 

 insects, eggs, larvae, worms, and vegetable matter. It makes a good bait and will readily 

 take a small hook baited with worm. Nothing regarding its breeding habits was 

 observed, but it probably spawns in the spring or early summer. 



EEDFiN (Notropis cornutus). 



The redfin or redfin shiner derives its name from the red fins of the breeding male. 

 The name is, therefore, not always individually applicable and is not distinctive, as other 

 cyprinids, as well as other fishes, have red fins at times, and this species does not always 

 have them. 



The distribution of the redfin is very extensive, according to Jordan and Evermann, 

 inhabiting the entire region east of the Rocky Mountains except the South Atlantic 

 States and Texas. In 1900 and 1904 it was collected in Oquossoc Lake and in Umbagog 



Fig. 9. — Redfin (Notropis cornutus). 



Lake in 1905, also in the Dead Cambridge River and the Androscoggin River near the 

 mouth of Molnichwock Brook. 



The redfin attains a length of 8 inches. Those secured in Oquossoc Lake, October 17, 

 1900, ranged from 3-3^ to a httle over 5 inches in length, and those from the other waters 

 in 1905 from 3 to 4 inches. (See Table IV p. 591 .) The fish is carnivorous, feeding largely 

 upon insects and their larvae and to some extent, especially in its youthful stages, upon 

 entomostracans. In lakes and ponds the redfin lurks around water plants, where its 

 food is most abundant, but on calm evenings it moves about in schools at the surface over 

 deep water, far from shore, feeding upon insects that have fallen upon the water. 



Its breeding time is in the spring or early summer, according to the temperature of the 

 water. At this time the male assumes a beautiful coloration, the fins broadly margined 

 with bright red, the back an iridescent blue, and the sides reflecting all the hues of the 

 rainbow. The head of the male at this time bears conical horny tubercles or excrescences, 

 whence the names homy-head and buckfish. 



The redfin will readily take a hook, especially if baited with earthworm, and is also 

 caught on small artificial flies, especially when feeding upon insects at the surface. The 

 fish is one of the best of live baits. 



