42 THE FISHES OF OHIO. 



Genus : Cyprinus. 

 Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus. The Carp. 



The Carp may be readily distinguished from any of our native Cyprinidce by the 

 presence of four long barbels, and by the very long dorsal fin — about 20 rays— preceded by 

 a stout spine, which is serrated behind. Anal fin >hort, of about 5 rays, also preceded by 

 a spine. The lower pharyngeal teeth, unlike those of any native American Minnow, are 

 in 3 rows, 1, 1, 3-3, 1, 1. The lateral line is complete. Many varieties have resulted from 

 cultivation. Chief among these are the " Full-scale," in which the body is covered with 

 strong scales, after the formula, 6-40-5; the " Half-scale " or " Mirror," characterized by a 

 few rows of very large scales ; and the " Leather Carp," in which the scales are entirely 

 absent. 



The Carp was first introduced into the state to stock ponds and lakes, 

 but, escaping from cultivation, has become generally distributed over the 

 state and occurs in streams as well as ponds and lakes. Recorded for the 

 state by Henshall, 18S9, in Ross lake and Little Miami "river; Lorain County, 

 occasionally taken in the rivers, McCormick, 1892; Maumee river at Toledo 

 (abundant), St. Marys river at Rockford, Tiffin river at West Unity, and 

 west end of Lake Erie (abundant), Kirsch, 1893; Franklin County, "of 

 general distribution throughout the county," Williamson and Osburn, 1897; 

 Knox County, Big Jelloway creek, "very common," Parker, Williamson 

 and Osburn, 1S98; very common in Sandusky Bay, R. C. Osburn, 1899; 

 Wheeling creek at Bridgeport, Ohio river at Bellaire, and Licking reservoir, 

 R. C. Osburn, 1900. 



Genus: Carassius. 

 Carassius auratus (Linnaeus). Goldfish. 



The Goldfish may be distinguished from our native Minnows by the very long dorsal 

 fin, preceded by a stout, serrated spine ; the anal of 7 rays, with a similar spine. From 

 the Carp it is distinguished by the absence of the barbels about the mouth, and by the 

 teeth, which are 4-4. As in the Carp, cultivation has produced many varieties. 



It has escaped from cultivation in some parts of Ohio, and has been 

 reported by Henshall, 1888, as " not rare in the canal basin near Elmwood, 

 Hamilton County. 



Genus: Tinca. 

 Tinea tinca (Linnaeus). Tfnch. 



In the spring of 1898 a freshet carried away the banks of an artificial 

 lake on the grounds of the Ohio State University, at Columbus, and many 

 of the Tench, with which the lake was stocked, escaped into the Olentangy 

 river. In September of the same year specimens were taken at the mouth 

 of the small stream flowing from the lake to the river. Whether the Tench, 

 will hold its own in the streams of Ohio vet remains to be seen. 



