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<br />teeth. Carcasses of mice, birds and small rabbits have been suc-
<br />cessfully used as bait for catching large adults, which will also
<br />readily take an artificial lure. Almost nothing is known of its life
<br />history, however. Spawning evidently takes place from spring to
<br />late summer, depending on water temperatures, for young 32 mm.
<br />long were captured in mid-May in southern Arizona and an individ-
<br />ual only 16 nun. long was taken in late August in southeastern Utah.
<br />This species is the largest minnow in North America and one of
<br />the largest in the world. It has been reported to attain a length
<br />of about 6 feet and a weight of 100 pounds. However, more recent
<br />records of this fish indicate that most individuals captured are
<br />between 4 and 15 pounds and vary from two to three feet long.
<br />Only occasionally have specimens weighing as much as 40 or 50
<br />pounds been caught in the last 35 years (Miller, 1961). Eleven
<br />individuals taken by rod directly below Flaming Gorge Dam,
<br />July 21-24, 1961, had the following total lengths and weights when
<br />fresh: 13%", 15 oz.; 15%", 15 oz.; 17%", 20.5 oz.; 18%", 28 oz.;
<br />19",. 26 oz.; 19%", 30.5 oz.; 19%", 30 oz.; 23%", 54 oz.; 23%",
<br />52% oz.; 24", 59 oz.; and 24%", 57 oz. McDonald and Dotson
<br />(1960: 37) gave a total length of 21.4 inches and weight of 2.7
<br />pounds for the larger of two specimens taken in the Green River
<br />in Hideout Canyon.
<br />Old-timers repeatedly insist that the species makes (or did
<br />make) a spawning migration up the big rivers and major tributaries
<br />in the spring, and they blame the construction of dams for the dis-
<br />appearance of these runs and the scarcity of this huge minnow.
<br />
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<br />Habitat
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<br />The Colorado squawfish has been taken only in or near big
<br />rivers, where the current is typically strong, the water muddy, the
<br />bottom consists of mud, stones and sand, there is a scarcity or lack
<br />of vegetation, and the water is three or more feet deep. The young,
<br />however, may be found where the current is slight or absent and in
<br />depths of one or two feet. Often there is much sand in suspension in
<br />the turbid water but on occasion, as in Hideout Canyon, the water
<br />may be clear. Some algae and pond-weed (Potamogetnn) have been
<br />noted where this species occurs.
<br />Indians formerly caught the fish in the lower Colorado River
<br />system by using a makeshift dip-net in the waters that receded
<br />rapidly after sudden rises in the river, or by shooting them with bow
<br />and arrow; in more recent years (1920-1930) they have been speared
<br />with pitchforks. Typically, the "salmon" are said to lie in deep holes,
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