58 Catalogue of the Fishes of Connecticut. 



*3. Labrax lineatus, Cuvier, Striped Bass, common. 

 # 4. Labrax mucronatus, Ouv., White Perch, common in Strat- 

 ford. 



# 5. Centropristis nigricans, Cuv., Black Bass, Black Perch, 

 Housatonic. 



*6. Pomotis vulgaris, Cuv., Pond Perch, Bream, Sunfish, com- 

 mon* 



lure observation, however, may possibly decide that we have hut one species of 

 perch in New England or New York. This is already the opinion of Mr. Ayres, 

 who has given this subject much attention. 



*3. It is matter of some surprise that the striped bass ascends the Connecticut 

 river above Hartford. But the quantity taken at Stonington is still more extraordi- 

 nary. Mr. Trumbull wrote under date of January 5, 1842, that " two of our citi- 

 zens during the latter part of summer and fall, took with hooks four thousand 

 pounds in one day. Some years since a schole of bass were surrounded with 

 seines, and a sufficient number caught to load thirteen sloops and smacks. About 

 fifty thousand pounds were taken in half a day a few weeks since in thePaugatuck 

 river, a mile from its mouth. They are usually shipped to New York market/' 



'4. The white perch are caught here in great numbers both by hooks and seines, 

 and are esteemed among our best fishes for the table. They are at times taken 

 twelve inches long by four inches broad. 



*5. This is the C. nigricans of Jardine, of which he gives a splendid figure. 

 One of this species was caught in the Housatonic, May 24, 1842, in the shad seine 

 of " the Juniper Fishing Company," and sent to me as unknown, and the first ever 

 seen in this region. The length was 10^ inches, depth 5 inches, thickness 3 inch- 

 es, weight 2| pounds, eye | of an inch in diameter and movable; said to have 

 lived two hours on the shore and to look distinctly in the eye of every person who 

 came near him. The roes were at the time about half matured and quite large for 

 their age. I think it superior to any fish for the table that we have in our waters. 



*6. The bream or Roach (the more popular name in Connecticut) when first ta- 

 ken from the water and living, is one of the most beautiful fishes we have, but at 

 death its colors are entirely changed and all its beauty vanishes. The appendix 

 with its long black strap at the termination of the operculum, is nearly as common 

 in our waters as the vulgaris. One fact connected with the Roach or Sun-fish, 

 which I have not seen noticed is, it is not very uncommon in still water to find one 

 of these fish to occupy a hole bowl-shaped, about two feet across, dug out in clear 

 white sand near the shore. This he guards with constant care; so much so, that 

 if any fish approaches near it, he flies out from his hole and gives furious chase for 

 twenty feet or more, and then returns and places himself again in the lowest cen- 

 tre of his large bowl, until another unsuspecting visitor approaches and is driven 

 off again in like manner. This appears to occupy his whole attention, and the ev- 

 ident ferocity with which he attacks all intruders is absolutely surprising. I inquir- 

 ed of an intelligent trout-catcher an explanation, and was told it was the female 

 preparing to spawn. But I found on the contrary in taking a number so situated, 

 with a hook, it was invariably a male fish. The object of his strange conduct I 

 have hitherto been unable to learn, and insert the facts here in order to elicit some 

 intelligence on the point. It will doubtless be found to have some connection with 

 the increase of the species. 





