208 NORTHERN FISHES 



through the egg membranes. The number of eggs produced in the 

 ovaries varies from 10,000 to over 48,000, depending on the size and 

 age of the fish. 



This species is one of the very best of pan fishes. The flesh is white, 

 firm, and of excellent flavor. As a game fish the yellow perch can be 

 commended chiefly because of the fact that anybody can catch it. 

 It can be taken with hook and line any month in the year and with 

 any sort of bait — grasshoppers, angleworms, grubs, small minnows, 

 pieces of mussel, or pieces of fish. It will even rise on occasion, and 

 freely, too, to the artificial fly. In summer it is frequently heavily para- 

 sitized by several kinds of worms, which form cysts in the skin and 

 muscles. These parasites, though harmless to man, have been a factor 

 in making the perch unpopular in many localities. 



Subfamily SANDRINAE 

 GENUS Stizostedion Rafiiiesque 



This genus contains two species, both found in Minnesota and 

 neighboring states. At least one subspecies, the blue pikeperch, S. 

 vitreum glmicum Hubbs, occurs in the East. 



EASTERN SAUGER (Sand Pike) 

 Stizostedion canadense canadense (Smith) 



The eastern sauger (Figure 38) is a smaller and more slender fish 

 than the waUeye, or pikeperch, but otherwise its resemblance to the 

 walleve is verv strong indeed, so much so that when faded in color it 



Figure 38. Eastern sauger, Stizostedion canadense canadense, 11 inches long. 



is difficult to distinguish one from the other by casual examination. 

 This similarity has virtually nullified the enforcement of the Minnesota 

 law on the size limits of walleyes. Violators of this law when caught 

 with undersized walleyes almost invariably claim they are saugers, 

 and once the entrails have been removed it is difficult for any but an 

 expert to determine the species. The fin rays in both species vary to 

 such an extent that they too are of doubtful diagnostic value. Examples 



