268 Book, of the Black Bass. 



CHAPTER XVI. 



NATURAL BAITS. 



"And, good master, tell me what baits more you remember." — 

 IzAAK Walton. 



Minnows. 



Among anglers, the term minnow is used to express any 

 small fish used for bait, whether adult fish of certain fami- 

 lies, or the young of others. But the term properly be- 

 longs to the family CTPEiN]D.a;, which comprises numer- 

 ous genera, and some of the genera are composed of many 

 species. 



The most generally diffused species are Notropis cor- 

 nutus, the common shiner; Semotilus corporalis, the com- 

 mon chub; Hybopsis kentuckiensisj the horned chub, and 

 the steel back, Campostoma anomalum. The shiner is, 

 by all odds, the best bait for the black bass, being quite 

 silvery, as its name implies, and shows well in the water. 

 It is not so hard}', or long-lived, on the hook, as the chub 

 or steel back; but on account of its white and silvery ap- 

 pearance it is especially desirable for turbid or rough 

 water, and on cloudy or dark days, though it is, for that 

 matter, a good bait at all times. 



The chubs are good bait on bright days with clear and 

 still water; they have rather tough mouths, endure the 

 hook well, and are rather more lively than shiners, and on 

 these accounts are preferred by many anglers. 



The young of some of the species of CATOSTOMiD.ffl " 

 (suckers), are also very good baits on sunny days, with 

 clear and low water; their tough, leathery, and projecting 



