240 FISHING WITH THE FLY. 



fins are : Dorsal, seven spines, fifteen soft rays ; anal, 

 six spines, eighteen soft rays. 



The Southern Ceoppie (Pomoxys annularis) is 

 also called "Bachelor," "Tin-mouth/' "Speckled- 

 perch," "New-light," "Camphellite," etc. It is closely 

 allied to the last-named species, hut is not quite so deep 

 in body, and has a larger, thinner, and more delicate 

 mouth. It is also much lighter in color, olivaceous, 

 and silvery, sometimes quite pale, with much smaller 

 spots, and the anal fin is pale and scarcely marked. Its 

 dorsal fin has but six spines, and fifteen soft rays ; anal 

 fin, six spines, eighteen rays. Both the "Croppies" 

 have large anal fins, fully as large as the dorsals. They 

 grow to two or three pounds in weight, usually swim in 

 schools, and lurk about logs, "brush, or fallen trees, under 

 dams, etc. They give fair sport on a five-ounce rod. 

 Trout flies of subdued tints should be used for croppies, 

 as the gray, brown and red hackles, gray drake, brown 

 drake, stone fly, black gnat, blue dun, etc. 



The Black Sunfish ( Clmnobryttus gulosus), known 

 in the South as the " War-mouth Perch," is more nearly 

 related to the black bass than any other member of the 

 family in its large mouth, the radial formula of its fins, 

 and to some extent in its coloration ; it also partakes of 

 the gamy nature of the black bass to no inconsiderable 

 degree. Its color is dark olive-green on the back, the 

 sides lighter, with blotches of blue and coppery red, the 

 belly brassy or yellowish ; iris red ; ear-flap black, bor- 

 dered with pale red. It has teeth on the tongue. Dorsal 



