FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSIONER. 193 



tact, the essential principles of fish culture require investigation into 

 all the conditions reported and such treatment as may be found neces- 

 sary and practicable. A scientific examination of these waters should 

 be made by the Commission, and this should be followed by appro- 

 priate action based upon the facts established by the inquiry. Let it 

 be understood at the outset, however, that the removal of the carp is not 

 an easy problem. 



The Buck Eye Shiner. 



This is a local name on Oneida lake for the emerald minnow or rosy 

 minnow (Xotropis aiherinoides Raf.) of the Great Lakes region, the Ohio 

 Valley, and south to Tennessee. The fish has been collected in Six Mile 

 creek below the falls near Ithaca, in a small stream near Montezuma dry- 

 dock in company with the red fin, in Scioto creek at Coopersville, in the 

 St. Lawrence river three miles below Ogdensburg, at Cape Vincent, and at 

 Grenadier Island. 



The buck eye abounds in lakes and in rapids of rivers. Mr. George 

 F. Scriba and the fishermen of Constantia generally believe that it was 

 introduced into Oneida lake many years ago. However that may be, it is 

 now one of the characteristic fishes of Oneida, and has a high reputation 

 as a bait for black bass and pike perch. 



This beautiful little minnow is silvery, translucent, and its body is 

 covered in life with iridescent hues, making it a choice morsel, for the large 

 game fishes. It ascends Scriba creek and Frederick creek, tributaries of 

 Oneida lake at Constantia, in spring and fall in great schools. The spring 

 migration may be for the purpose of spawning or for feeding upon the 

 eggs and fry of the pike perch. In the fall it may enter the streams to find 

 more open water than the lake affords. 



The species is very hardy in cold water, but does not endure warm 

 water in summer. It is the favorite bait of the angler and commercial 

 fishermen and furnishes abundant and dainty food for the game species- 

 If the experiment now in progress to establish it in trout waters proves 

 successful, we may expect results highly beneficial to fish culture, as trout 

 I is often costly and difficult to obtain in good condition. 

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