FOREST, LAKE, AND RIVER 



tous, and of late years they have grown more 

 and more to be an angler's fish, for they rise freely 

 to the artificial fly, and when taken from cold, clear 

 waters are a delicious pan fish. Its golden yellow 

 sides, and the six to eight broad, dark, shining bars 

 traversing the body, and the red or orange of its 

 lower fins, will serve on sight to distinguish it from 

 the other perches. 



The average length of the yellow perch will 

 not exceed ten inches, or half a pound in weight ; 

 but they are caught in western waters, particularly 

 near Kalamazoo, Michigan, weighing over two 

 and a half pounds, thus rivalling in bulk its British 

 analogue, which is considered a game fish by English 

 anglers, who pursue it with great assiduity and skill, 

 as specimens in their waters frequently exceed three 

 pounds and, now and then, reach five pounds. 



Our American species are widely distributed, 

 being very abundant in the Great Lakes and in coast- 

 wise streams from Nova Scotia to North Carolina. 



As before stated, the perch-like minnows called 

 darters are numerously represented in the family 

 of perches. Most of them are useful as lures ; but 

 one of them is not only among the most active of 

 fresh-water fishes, but grows to the size of eight 

 inches, and yields sprightly sport on a light fly rod, 

 taking the feathers with a snap, and, for its size, com- 

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