GEN. LABRAX. BASSE, OR SEA-PERCH. 129 



coast, it is called the Sea-dace. From the com- 

 mon Perch, it is readily distinguished by the scales 

 on the gill-cover, the spines on the opercle, and 

 the roughness of the vomer. Other distinguish- 

 ing characters, and marked differences in colour, 

 will be seen by a glance at our Plates and Appendix. 

 The Sea-perch, besides, acquires a much greater 

 size; the average length in this country, perhaps, 

 may not exceed eighteen inches, but frequently, 

 and more especially abroad, it attains a weight of 

 fifteen pounds, and occasionally much more. Its 

 food is chiefly composed of Crustacea, the fry of 

 other fishes, and fishes of smaller dimensions. They 

 take the bait freely, and are captured by angling 

 with deep-sea lines, and also by the seine and trawl- 

 nets. They swim in shoals along the shores, and 

 deposit their spawn in summer, generally near the 

 mouths of rivers, or in estuaries, up which they 

 pass a considerable way, and hence they are some- 

 times caught in the salmon-nets at the Queens- 

 ferry, Frith of Forth. Though more abundant in 

 the Mediterranean and on the Dutch coast than 

 with us, they are by no means uncommon on 

 the southern and western shores of England, and 

 also on the east coast of Ireland ; they are much 

 rarer on the Scottish shores. Their flesh is firm 

 and well flavoured; and yet, in the Edinburgh 

 market, they are but little esteemed, whilst in the 

 Moray Frith, and elsewhere, they are highly prized. 

 Mr. Yarreil informs us they have been domesti- 

 cated with success in Mr. Arnold's fresh-water 



