28 



base of dorsal. Young with dark lateral band ; D. 7, A. 8. 

 Scales 10-54-7. Length to 12 inches. 



Common throughout the eastern United States. Abbott 

 mentions it. 



Abramis crysoleucas {Mitch.). 



Roach ; Shiner ; Bream. 



Body elongate, compressed, head short and low ; mouth 

 oblique ; lateral line much decurved. Greenish and bluish 

 above, sides silvery with golden reflections, fins yellowish. 

 Breeding males often deep golden on flanks, the lower fins red. 

 D. 8, A. 13. Scales 10-51-3. Length to 12 inches. 



Common all over the United States east of the Rocky Moun- 

 tains in all waters. Generally found associated with the com- 

 mon sunfish, killies and catfish in our vicinity. It is an active 

 fish and lives well in the aquarium, becoming very familiar 

 with its keeper. Owing to the small size of the gullet, the 

 smaller individuals will at length starve unless their food is 

 much comminuted. From its numbers the shiner is of great 

 importance as food for. larger fish. In appearance it is shad- 

 like and perhaps is the most typical of our Cyprinidse ; its 

 nearest relatives are found in the Old World. 

 Cyprinus carpio L. 

 Carp. 



Both this and the next species are distinguished from our 

 native species by having much longer dorsals and by their more 

 bulky shapes. The carp has four barbels. D. 23, A. 8. Each 

 of these fins is preceded by a strong spine, serrate behind. 

 The color is olivaceous of different shades, with brownish 

 reflections, lighter below. There are several varieties of this 

 fish, that with normal scales, that with a few rows of very 

 large scales (called mirror carp) , and that with very few or no 

 scales (called leather carp). The carp crosses with the gold- 

 fish, forming hybrids. Length 18 inches or more. 



This fish, originally at home in East Asia, has now become 

 cosmopolitan and with the gold fish may be considered as 

 almost a domestic animal. 



Opinions differ greatly as to its value as a food fish. In 

 Europe it is highly prized, while with us it is frequently con- 



