NATURAL HISTORY. 257 



6. Centropristes nigricans, (Block) Cuv. and Vol. 



DeKay, N. Y. Fauna, p. 24, fig. 6. 



This fisli is generally known by our citizens as the "sea bass." 

 It is first brought to market towards the latter part of April or the 

 beginning of May, and continues to be exposed for sale till the mid- 

 dle of October. A very iew are brought to the end of that month 

 and even later, but none are to be seen in winter. It is a delicious 

 fish, but being very common does not s^U for more than eight to 

 twelve cents per pound. 



7. Grystes fasciatus, {Les.) Agassiz. 



HuRO NIGRICANS, Cuv. and Val. DeKay, N. Y. Fauna, p. 15, fig. 

 224. Centrarcuus fasciatus, ib. p. 28, fig. 8. 

 The black bass is rather common — more so than any other of the 

 lacustrine species — in our markets during the milder parts of winter 

 and the first half of spring. I have been informed that they are 

 sent from Lakes Erie and Ontario, as well as Lake Cayuga, and that 

 a few are caught in the Hudson river, where they have been intro- 

 duced since the opening of the great Erie canal. They appear to be 

 much esteemed by our citizens and are generally sold at twelve cents 

 per pound. They are called by our fishermen " lake bass." 



8. Ambloplites ^neus, {Les.) Agassiz, 

 Centrarchus J3NEUS, Cuv. and Val., DeKay, N. Y. Fauna, p. 27, fig. 4. 

 This species had not, as late as last fall, received any popular name 

 from the fisliermen. It is brought from the same localities, according 

 to the fish dealers, as the black bass, but not in so large numbers. 

 It is most common during the early part of spring, when it brings 

 about ten cents per pound. 



9. POMOXIS. 



A species of the genus Pomoxis, of Rafinesque, as characterized by 

 Professor Agassiz, is occasionally brought to the New York markets 

 with the two preceding, and Irom the same locality. I have only 

 seen Rafinesque's description of the P. annularis, Raf., of the Ohio 

 river in the first volume of the Transactions of the Philadelphia 

 Academy of Natural Sciences, and the brief notice of the Centrarchus 

 hexacanthus of Cuv. and Val., given by Dr. DeKay in his N. Y. 

 Fauna, and from both of these it appears to differ — from the P. an- 

 nularis widely if Rafinesque's description and figure are correct. 

 Professor Agassiz, in his " Notice of the Fishes of the Tennessee 

 River," in the American Journal, vol. XVII, p. 298, in his re- 

 marks on the geographical distribution of the genus, states that he 

 has received a species " Irora the western part of New Yoik," and the 

 species brought to this market is probably identical with his. As I 

 have never seen his description, however, I will give a short notice 

 of it. 



The body is very much compressed ; the greatest depth contained 

 little less than twice in its total length. The dorsal and abdominal 



17 s 



