COMMON FISHES OF MISSISSIPPI RIVER 
201 
and in Larry and Sugar Creeks and in the Des Moines River. More than half of the 
minnows taken from the river were of the species atherinoides, which was also found 
in the lake and the other waters just mentioned. 
One of the methods by which minnows are captured at Keokuk shows the tendency 
of these fish to swim upstream, - at least on some occasions. In shallow water, where 
the current is strong, a miniature dam is built with large stones loosely piled in a row. 
Near the middle of this little dam an opening is left. A conical wire net with wooden 
handle is then held in the opening, the open end of the net downward. If the min- 
nows are active they will soon be striking the inside of the net, and the blows can be 
felt in the handle. In a little while the net is raised, emptied of its catch, and put 
back. Quantities of both species are caught in this way. 
Minnows are found close to the power dam and were seen jumping from the 
water when pursued by herring. They were seen in the tailrace on May 14, 1915. 
The facts noted show that minnows are probably sometimes checked by the dam 
and accessories while moving northward, but the observations are not extensive 
enough to justify conclusions. There is no evidence that the interference is of 
consequence. 
The stomachs of eight examples of atherinoides were examined by Doctor Mutt- 
kowski- — four contained only fragments of midges; two, fragments of May flies; one, 
an adult caddis fly, Leptocella; and one, a trace of insect debris. Stomachs of six 
examples of jejunus were also examined, with the following report: (1) Trace of 
debris; (2) chironomus adult fragments; (3) Probezzia sp. pupa; (4) May fly at 
metamorphosis, fragments; (5) May fly nymph fragments, 60 per cent, midge pupa 
fragments, 40 per cent; (6) caddis worm (Leptocella ^.) , 50 per cent and Lumbriculus 
sp., 50 per cent. 
The other species of cyprinidge that were observed by Stringham may be listed 
with notes regarding their occurrence: 
Campostoma anomalum (Rafinesque), stone-roller: Larry Creek, August 12-14, 1915 (2); 
Keokuk Lake or a tributary, September, 1915 (4 collected by Henry McAdams) ; Cheney Creek, 
March 13, 1916 (3 distended with eggs). 
Hybognathus nuchalis Agassiz, silvery minnow: Mississippi River near Keokuk, September 2, 
1915. 
Pimephales promelas (Rafinesque), blackhead minnow: Sugar Creek, June 2, 1915 (1); Price 
Creek, on Iowa side, about 2 miles above the dam, April 20, 1916; Mississippi River, near Warsaw, 
May 6, 1916 (2). 
Pimephales notatus (Rafinesque), blunt-nose minnow: Sugar Creek, April 30, 1915 (several); 
Larry Creek, August 12, 1915 (1). 
Semotilus atromaculatus Mitchill, horned dace: Received from an angler who had caught it in 
a back water (or Mouth of a creek) near Hamilton, April 16, 1915 (1, length 26 centimeters, or 10)4 
inches) . 
Notemigonus chrysoleucas (Mitchill), golden shiner: Occasionally taken in minnow seines in 
river. A mature female taken April 28, 1916, had a length of 15.5 centimeters, and a mature male 
of the same date a length of 9.3 centimeters. 
Ceratichthys vigilax (Baird and Girard), bullhead minnow: Sugar Creek, April 30 and June 2, 
1915; other examples received from fishermen were said to have come from the river and from Price 
Creek. 
Notropis blennius (Girard), straw-colored minnow: After comparison with material in the collec- 
tions of the bureau of Fisheries and the National Museum about 3 dozen fish, collected in Sugar 
Creek and the Des Moines River, have been referred to this species in spite of the fact that an inner 
pharyngeal tooth was found in some examples. 
Notropis lutrensis (Biard and Girard), redfin: The redfin seems to be generally distributed in 
small numbers, having been collected in the lake at Montrose, in Larry Creek, the river below the 
