FISHES OF CHESAPEAKE BAY 
125 
The food of this species consists of plants. Only fragments were present in stomachs examined. 
This fish spawns early in the spring. Large specimens taken in November already have the ovaries 
somewhat distended with eggs easily visible to the unaided eye. 
This minnow reaches a somewhat larger size than N. hudsonius amarus, the largest specimen 
at hand being 6J£ inches in length, which is probably the maximum size attained. This minnow is 
used to a limited extent for food and also for bass bait. The food it provides for the larger preda- 
tory fishes, however, constitutes its chief economic importance. It is said to be abundant in the 
fresh-water streams of the Chesapeake region and is taken in company with Notropis hudsonius 
amarus. 
Habitat. — New Jersey and southward to Texas and in the Mississippi Valley northward to 
the Dakotas. 
Chesapeake records. — -{a) Previous records: None definitely from brackish water. (6) Speci- 
mens in collection from the vicinity of Havre de Grace, Md. (Northeast River, Susquehanna River, 
and Spesutie Island), 30-foot seine, August 27 to 31 and November 10 to 12, 1921; highest salinity 
2.23 per mille. 
39. Genus NOTROPIS Rafinesque. Shiners 
Body elongate, subcylindrical or compressed; abdomen rounded; mouth terminal or slightly 
inferior; no barbels; pharyngeal teeth in one or two rows, the main row with four teeth on each 
side; lateral line present and usually complete; scales rather large; vertical fins short; the dorsal 
situated over or posterior to the ventrals. The shiners comprise a large genus of fresh-water fishes, 
only a few of which venture into brackish water and none of which enter salt water. 
KEY TO THE SPECIES 
a. Lateral line complete; scales 37 to 41; no dark lateral band, except in very young; base of caudal 
usually with a dark spot hudsonius amarus, p. 125 
aa. Lateral line incomplete, usually extending only to end of base of dorsal fin; scales 33 to 36; 
a prominent dark lateral band extending around tip of snout to base of caudal 
bifrenatus, p. 126 
50. Notropis hudsonius amarus (Girard). Spawn-eater; Silver-fin; Shiner; “Gudgeon.” 
Hudsonius amarus Girard, Proc., Ac. Nat. Sci., Phila., 1856, p. 210; Chesapeake Bay. 
Hybopsis hudsonius Uhler and Lugger, 1876, ed. I, p. 175; ed. II, p. 149. 
Notropis hudsonius amarus Jordan and Evermann, 1896-1900, p. 270; Smith and Bean, 1899, p. 182; Fowler, 1912, p. 52. 
Head 3.8 to 4.8; depth 3.6 to 5.8; D. 9 or 10; A. 9 or 10; scales 37 to 41. Body rather slender, 
compressed; caudal peduncle quite long and slender, its depth 2 to 2.8 in head; head rather long; 
snout conical, 3.05 to 4.2 in head; eye 2.5 to 3.4; interorbital space 2.4 to 3.5; mouth somewhat 
oblique, terminal or nearly so in young, slightly inferior in adults, lower jaw included; maxillary 
not quite reaching anterior margin of eye; pharyngeal teeth usually in two rows, the second row 
sometimes wanting, with one or two teeth when present, the main row usually with four, rarely 
with only three teeth, the teeth in the main row rather large and prominently curved near the 
tips; scales moderate, 14 to 16 rows crossing the median line of back in advance of the dorsal fin; 
lateral line complete, somewhat decurved; origin of dorsal slightly nearer tip of snout than base 
of caudal, the third and fourth rays longest, reaching past the succeeding rays when the fin is de- 
flexed, about equal to length of head; caudal fin forked, the lobes of about equal length; anal fin 
similar to the dorsal; but the rays not quite as long, its origin more than an eye’s diameter behind 
the end of base of dorsal in large examples, less than an eye’s diameter behind end of dorsal base in 
young, somewhat nearer base of caudal than tips of pectorals in adults, equidistant from base of 
caudal and base of pectorals in very young; ventral fins inserted a little behind vertical from origin 
of dorsal, reaching to or a little past origin of anal in very young, not nearly reaching anal in large 
individuals; pectoral fin rather pointed, the upper rays longest, 1.05 to 1.4 in head. 
Color greenish above, sides silvery, lower parts pale. Young with a dark, plumbeous lateral 
band extending forward through eye and across snout and ending in a dark caudal spot. The 
lateral band and finally the caudal spot, also, almost wholly disappear with age. The fins are all 
plain translucent. 
