The Perch Family 165 



a more pointed head and smaller eye. It is dis- 

 tributed through the Great Lake region and in 

 the upper portions of the Missouri, Mississippi, 

 and Ohio rivers. It grows to a length of twelve 

 to fifteen inches. Its color is paler than the pike- 

 perch, grayish above, with brassy sides, which are 

 marked by several blackish blotches or patches, 

 hence " rattlesnake pike." 



It is not nearly so good a food-fish as the pike- 

 perch, and is not of much importance as a game- 

 fish. It may be fished for with the same tackle as 

 that recommended for the calico-bass or crappie, in 

 the same situations mentioned for the pike-perch. 

 I have taken it with a gaudy fly on the Ohio and 

 Muskingum rivers, in Ohio, and in the Big Sandy 

 and Tygert Creek, in Kentucky ; also by still-fish- 

 ing and trolling on Lake Erie about the Bass 

 Islands. The meaning or etymology of the name 

 " sauger " is unknown. 



THE YELLOW-PERCH 



( Perca flavescens) 



The yellow-perch was first described by Dr. 

 Mitchill in 18 14, from the vicinity of New York. 

 He named it flavescens, " yellowish," owing to its 

 coloration. It is closely allied to the perch of 



