432 AMERICAN FISHES. 
about ten inches. It assists to swell the urchin’s string, but has no tangi- 
ble importance as a food-fish. Its flesh spoils very quickly after the fish 
is taken from the water, hence the name ‘‘ Rot-gut Minnow,”’ applied to it 
in Alabama. A large part of the food of the black bass, trout and other 
predatory ‘fish is contributed by the Shiner and by its numerous congeners. 
Minnilus rubricroceus, a species inhabiting the headwaters of the Tennes- 
see and Savannah Rivers, is a very lovely species found by Cope and Jordan 
in rock brooks at the foot of cascades—a species well adapted for aquarium 
culture in the north. 
Alburnus, the Bleak, Ablette or Uckelei of Europe, called by Walton 
the “fresh-water sprat,” is represented in America by two species of 
the genus 2échardsonius, which occur in the Columbia River and _north- 
ward. The Bleak is chiefly of interest as the source of the pearly matter, 
or Lssence ad’ Orient, which is prepared from its scales and used in the 
manufacture of false pearls. In Pomerania one hundred and ten pounds 
of Uchelei yield about two and one-fifth pounds of scales, worth about 
three dollars in commerce. In other words, 10,000 fish are destroyed to 
make one pound of pearl material. Is not this worse than killing birds for 
feathers? This industry has been carried on in France for over two hun- 
dred years. The product of the Moselle in 1860 was worth 5,000 francs, 
The scales of the Roach and Dace are also used. 
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THE BARBEL OF EUROPE. 
The Barbel is somewhat like our Tarpum, since it is pursued by fisher- 
men and caught chiefly for the pleasure of catching it. 
‘«The fish,’? says Walton,‘ is of a fine cast and handsome shape, with 
small scales, which are placed after a most exact and curious manner, and, 
as I told you, may be rather said not to be ill than to be good meat ; the 
