230 



FISHES OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



198. POMOXIS SPAROIDES (Lacepede). 

 "Speckled Perch"; "White Perch"; Calico Bass; Strawberry Bass; Crappy. 



Labrus sparoides Lacepede, Histoire Naturelle des Poissons, iii, 517, 1802; South Carolina. 



Pomoxys hexacanthus, Cope, 18706, 451; Neuse River. 



Pomoxis sparoides, Jordan, 18896, 126, 130; Tar and Neu.se rivers. Smith, 1893a, 192, 196, 199; Pasquotank 



River, Edenton Bay, Roanoke River. Evermann & Cox, 1896, 305; Neuse River. Jordan & Ever- 



mann, 1896, 987, pi. cUv, fig. 416. 



Diagnosis. — Body much compressed, back elevated, the depth .5 length; head .33 

 length; snout somewhat upturned; mouth large, maxillary extending beyond pupil; eye large, 

 equal to snout, .25 length of head; scales in lateral series 40 to 45, in transverse series 22; 

 dorsal and anal fins high; dorsal rays vii,15 or viii,15; anal rays vi,17 or vi,18. Color: body 

 light silvery green, sometimes with a delicate pink or purple suffusion; backhand sides irregu- 

 larly mottled with dark green or black; dorsal, anal, and caudal fins marked by pale and dark 

 green or black spots in more or less regular rows. (sparoides, like Sparus, the sea bream.) 



Fig, 99. Calico Bass; Strawberry Bass; Crappy. Pomoxis sparoides. 



The calico bass is found coastwise from New Jersey to Texas, and through- 

 out the Great Lakes and upper Mississippi basin. Its range has been greatly 

 extended by transplanting, the Potomac and various other streams having been 

 successfully stocked. This fish is common in Albemarle Sound and tributaries, 

 in Tar and Neuse rivers, and in other suitable waters of the coastal plain and 

 Piedmont regions. The name "speckled perch" is in use on Albemarle and 

 Pamlico sounds, and the name "white perch" is applied near Raleigh. The 

 fish mentioned by Lawson in 1709 as the "fiat, mottled perch, or Irishman", is 

 doubtless this species. 



This bass ranks high as a game fish, and in fall affords sport to the people of 

 Edenton and other points, minnows and grubs being used for bait. The flesh is 

 firm, white, and of fine flavor when the fish are taken from cool, pure waters. 

 The maximum weight is 3 pounds, but the average is not over 1 pound. 



