THE FOOD AND GAME FISHES OF NEW YORK. 



391 



Enneacanthus, and the locality " near New York " does not possess this Sunfish 

 among its native species. 



The Blue Sunfish, Blue Bream, Copper-nosed Bream or Dollardee is a very widely 

 diffused species and varies greatly in size, color and length of the ear-flap. It is 

 found in the Great Lakes and throughout the Mississippi Valley to Mexico. East 

 of the Alleghanies it ranges from New Jersey to Florida. In Pennsylvania it is 

 abundant only in the western part of the State, including Lake Erie. Dr. Abbott 

 has recorded it from the Delaware River. Dr. Meek says that it is found in the 

 Cayuga Lake basin in small numbers with the Blue Spotted Sunfish, Apomotis cya- 

 nellus, which he took near Montezuma. It is recorded also from Chautauqua Lake 

 by Dr. Evermann. 



The Blue Sunfish grows to a length of nearly I foot, and individuals weighing 

 nearly 2 pounds are on record. Adults, however, average 8 inches in length, with a 



BLUE-GILL. 



weight of less than I pound. The size of the individuals depends on the habitat. 

 In large lakes and streams it grows to a greater size than in small bodies of 

 water. In southern waters it attains to a larger size than in northern waters. 

 It lives in ponds as well as in streams and thrives in warm waters. It is consid- 

 ered equal to the Rock Bass as a pan fish and can very readily be taken by hook 

 fishing. 



In spirits the color is pale brown, the scales with a pale margin ; a dark blotch 

 on the hind part of the soft dorsal ; a black opercular flap, its width and length 

 about equal, shorter than the eye. The living fish varies with age from light 

 green to dark green. The young have the sides silvery, tinged with purple and 



