3IO ' REPORT OF THE 



First of all, the important bait minnows belonging to the Cyprinidcs, or true min- 

 now family, are considered, the species being taken up in regular order beginning 

 with the lowest forms, those most closely related to the suckers, and ending with 

 the highest developed forms. Then the miscellaneous bait minnows are considered. 

 These include certain species of the smaller catfishes, several species of suckers, and 

 such others as are sometimes used as live bait. 



Collecting bait niinnoivs : There are, of course, all sorts of ways for collecting or 

 securing bait minnows. The great majority of anglers are doubtless in the habit of 

 depending upon local dealers in bait. Every important fishing resort has one or 

 more persons who are in the business and from whom live minnows may be obtained 

 at prices varying from 25 cents to $2.00 a dozen. And there are dealers who keep 

 nothing but desirable minnows, but the average man who handles live bait is not so 

 particular, and in his live-box may be found all sorts of small fish, and some that are 

 not small, which he recommends in the highest terms to the inexperienced angler. 



But many anglers, either by preference or from necessity, collect their own bait 

 minnows, and this custom has much to recommend it ; for one can usually secure 

 better minnows. He can make his own selections as to species and size, his min- 

 nows will be fresher and more vigorous than those from the Saprolegnia-\Vi{Q?,\.&^ 

 live-box, and, moreover, he who collects his own minnows learns much about their 

 habits and much of nature, which will be no disadvantage to any man. 



The best and most satisfactory manner of collecting minnows for bait is by 

 means of the Baird collecting seine. These seines can be had of any desired length 

 from H. & G. W. Lord, Boston, but the angler will, of course, keep within the lawful 

 limit of minnow seines. The peculiarity of the Baird seine is that the middle por- 

 tion is made with finer mesh than the ends and is made into a bag 2 or 3 feet 

 in length. Seines without the bag, but with the finer mesh in the bunt may be 

 had. 



Various other kinds of nets are used, with varying success, but a Baird seine 15 

 to 25 feet long will prove most satisfactory. 



Minnows suitable for live bait can be found in almost any stream or lake that has 

 not been overfished or whose waters are not polluted or made unsuitable for fish by 

 milling, mining, logging or sewage operations. Different species will be found in 

 different streams, some preferring those with colder water, rocky bottom, and swiftly- 

 flowincf current, while others have chosen the streams whose waters flow more slowly 

 and are warmer, and whose bottom is of mud or sand or fine gravel. And in the 

 same stream different species will seek out different parts ; some prefer the quiet 

 reaches, some the patches of aquatic vegetation, while others delight to dwell in the 



