FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 335 



while for him who desires to capture the Great Northern Pike, large Pickerel, and 



the wily Muskallunge, an 8 or 10 inch River Chub is the lure to use. The 



Hornyhead is exceedingly tenacious of life and when on the hook fights with a 



vigor, viciousness and persistency which justly entitle it to rank with the game 



fishes. 



An expert angler, speaking of the Red-tailed Chub, says it is especially fine for 



trolling. The best sizes are from 2 to 4 inches in length. It is tough, wily, and 



stands much punishment in the water. Its good qualities are its toughness and 



activity on the hook. It is fine bait for the Wall-eyed Pike and both kinds of bass. 



For use in trolling for Muskallunge or other large fish there is no better lure than 



the present species. A dozen River Chubs of assorted sizes are worth more than 



double that number of any other species. 



Another feature which recommends this minnow is the ease with which it may 

 be captured. Not only can it be secured in the usual way with the minnow seine, 

 but it can be easily induced to enter any sort of a minnow trap. And, in the 

 absence of any better way, it can usually be taken in sufficient numbers by means 

 of a small hook and line, baited with angleworm or white grub. 



The River Chub often constitutes an important part of the small boy's string, 

 and when fried is by no means to be despised, the flesh being firm, flaky and sweet. 



Head 4; depth 4}^ ; D. 8 ; A. 7 ; scales 6-41-4, 18 in front of dorsal; teeth, 

 1,4-4,0 or 1,4-4, 1, sometimes 4-4. 



Body rather robust, little elevated, not much compressed ; head large, rather 

 broadly rounded above; snout conical, bluntish ; mouth rather large, sub-terminal, 

 little oblique, the lower jaw somewhat shorter than the upper; upper lip rather 

 below level of eye ; maxillary not reaching eye ; eye small, median, high up ; barbel 

 well developed ; suborbital very narrow ; preorbital large ; fins moderate, the dorsal 

 rather posterior, slightly behind insertion of ventrals ; caudal broad, little forked ; 

 scales large, crowded anteriorly ; lateral line somewhat decurved. 



Color, bluish olive above ; sides with bright green and coppery reflections ; a 

 curved dusky bar behind opercle ; scales above with dark borders ; belly pale but 

 not silvery, rosy in spring males ; fins all pale orange or even reddish, without black 

 spot ; males in spring with a bright crimson spot on each side of head, usually quite 

 distinct ; adults with the top of the head swollen, forming a sort of a crest which is 

 sometimes a third of an inch higher than the level of the neck and is covered with 

 large tubercles ; young with a dark blotch at base of caudal fin. 



