250 FISHES OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



trout ", it is caught in seines hauled for shad; and in the upper river near Weldon 

 it is rare and known as "salmon". 



It has been thought by some persons that this species was not native to 

 the Albemarle region, but Mr. S. G. Worth considers it indigenous to those 

 waters, and the National Museum contains a specimen collected by J. W. Milner 

 at Avoca as long ago as 1878. Salmon Creek is the suggestive name of a small 

 stream between Chowan and Roanoke rivers. 



The pike perch spawns in early spring, in shoal waters. The eggs are .08 

 inch in diameter , and resemble those of the shad in being semibuoyant but differ 

 therefrom in being adhesive. The number laid is about 45,000 for each pound 

 of the female, and the hatching season is a little less than 3 weeks in a watei tem- 

 perature of 45°F. In hatching the eggs artificially the tendency to adhere in 

 masses is overcome by separating them mechanically with starch or muck, which 

 is mixed with the eggs immediately after fertilization. 



The species ranks high as a game fish, and is easily lured with artificial fly, 

 troUmg spoon, or baited hook. The natural food consists mostly of soft-finned 

 fishes, with a variable proportion of insects and crustaceans. 



Its edible qualities are excellent , the flesh bemg firm, white, and well-flavored; 

 and it stands shipment better than most fishes. In North Carolina the com- 

 mercial value of the species is small. 



Genus PERCA Linnaeus. Yellow Perches. 



Small fresh-water fishes, of which 3 species are known, 1 from Asia, 1 from 

 Europe, and 1 from North America. Body oblong or elongate, compressed; 

 back elevated; mouth moderate sized, terminal, with protractile premaxillaries 

 and bands of fine teeth on jaws, vomer , and palatines ; a spinous process on opercle, 

 and serrations on preopercle and shoulder girdle; gill-membranes not united; 

 scales ctenoid, rather small, completely covering body and part of cheeks and 

 opercles; lateral Ime present; air bladder present; dorsal fins well separated, the 

 spines high and strong, 12 to 16 in number; 2 weak anal spmes; ventral fins close 

 together, with a conspicuous spine. (Perca, perch.) 



214. PERCA FLAVESCENS (MitchiU). 

 "Red-fin"; "Englishman"; "Raccoon Perch"; "Yellow Perch". 



M orone flavescens Mitchill, Report on Fishes of New York, 18, 1814; near New York City. 



Perca flavescens, Cope, 18706, 448; Neuse River. Smith, 1893o, 192, 196, 200; Pasquotank River, Albemarle 



Sound, and Roanoke River. Jordan & Evermann, 1896, 1023, pi. clxv, fig. 435. Smith, 1901, 134; 



Lake Mattamuskeet. 



Diagnosis. — Depth greatest under first 4 dorsal spines, less than .33 length; caudal 

 peduncle rather broad, .33 head; head acutely pointed, its length about equal to depth of body, 

 profile concave; mouth slightly oblique, maxillary not extending as far as middle of eye; snout 

 much longer than eye; eye rather small, .16 head; gill-rakers short and stout, about 15 on long 

 arm head of first arch; rows of scales in lateral series 75 to 90, in transverse series about 25; tubes 

 in lateral line 55 to 60; cheeks and upper part of opercles well-scaled; dorsal rays xiii to xv + 

 11,13 to 11,15, longest spines less than .5 head; anal rays ii,7 or ii,8, the spines much shorter than 

 soft rays; caudal slightly concave behind; pectorals .5 head; ventrals somewhat longer. Color: 



