GILL] NOTEWORTHY EXTRA-EUROPEAN CYPRINIDS 307 
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Fic. 51.—Pharyngeal bones, teeth, and scales of Platygobio gracilis. After Gill. 
The shiner of many parts of the United States (Abramis—or 
Notemigonus—chrysoleucas) is most nearly related to the common 
bream of Europe, but instead of bearing that name, has had forced 
on it those of the English roach and dace. It is one of the commonest 
of the American Cyprinids and reaches a larger size than most 
of the others—often as much as six inches and occasionally, it is: 
claimed, even a foot in length.t It affects mostly grassy or reedy 
waters and is generally to be found in mill-ponds. It is often angled 
for and readily takes a hook baited with an ordinary earthworm. 
Fic. 52.—Abramis chrysoleucas. After Goode. 
By Storer “it is said to be a delicate fish for the table,” but it is 
really scarcely, if any, better than any other Cyprinid of the same 
size. It was more aptly said by him to be “the best bait” for 
pickerel in Massachusetts. It is not likely, indeed, that the pickerel 
exercises choice, but simply that, because of its size, abundance and 
facility of obtainment, it is the most used. 
*The largest of thousands the present writer has caught or seen was barely 
ten inches long. 
