256 NATURAL HISTORY. 



weighinc^ as much as seventy pounds. In April, young fishes, measur- 

 ing from two to lour inches, are also broujijht, which have several 

 narrow, indistinct, transverse bands, as described in the notice of the 

 fishes of Beesley's Point. 



I have seen a specimen that I considered as only a variety of this 

 species, agreeing in its maiking with the L. n itatus of !Sir John 

 Richardson, as noticed by Dr. DeKay. In form and. every other 

 particular it resembled the common bass. 



The striped bass is one of the most esteemed fishes found in our 

 waters, and sells readily at from ten to twelve cents a pound, and it 

 occasionally biings even eighteen cents. It is sent to market in con- 

 siderable numbers from the shores of Long Island, and many are also 

 caught on the New Jersey side of New York bay^ a short distance 

 below Jersey city. 



3. Labrax rufus, {Mlt.,) DeKay. 

 DeKay, N. Y. Fauna, p. 9, fig. 7. 



This species is found in our markets from the first of September till 

 as late as the end of June, but in the greatest numbers in the early 

 spring. The average size is less than ten inches long. It is sold at 

 from six to eight cents, and occasionally at ten cents per poimd. 



This fish is generally known to the fisherman under the simple 

 name of "Perch;" the Perca flavescens being distinguished as the 

 '' Yellow Perch." 



Fishes are occasionally brought which are a shade lighter in their 

 color than the general color of this species, but they agree in every 

 other respect, even to the most minute points, with the L. rufus. 



4. LucioPERCA Americana, {Cuv. and Val.) 

 DeKay, N. Y. Fauna, p. 17, fig. 163. 

 This percoid is occasionally sent to our markets from the first of 

 Se])tember till towards the middle of spring. It is called by the 

 fishermen " Lake Pike," and by some " Matsknlonge." 



This and many other species found in the interior of the State of 

 New York, are j)acked in saw dust and sent to this city by express. I 

 am informed that most of them are caught in the small lakes of cen- 

 tral New York, Cayuga, &c. 



5. Serranus erytiirogaster, DeKay. 

 DeKay, N. Y. Fauna, pi 21, fig. 52. 



This species is sometimes sent to our maiket from Key West and 

 the reefs of Florida in May and the summer months. I have never 

 seen more than two or three exposed for sale at a single time. It a[)- 

 pears to be considerably esteemed and is sold at from twelve to fifteen 

 cents per pound. 



This fisli is generally called by the fishermen "red snapper." I 

 have been told by them that it takes the hook in the same manner as 

 the Black tish, {Tautoga a^uencana,) and that it otherwise resenihles 

 that labroid in its hahits. lluw much reliance is to be placed on this 

 information I do not know. 



