NOTES ON FISHES OF THE DELAWARE RIVER. 837 



During the summer of 1873, I found the young bass, 1 to 3 inches iu 

 length very abundant in both the river, and the feeder of the Delaware 

 and RarHan Canal. They were associated with the niyrinds of small 

 cyprinoids and the barred minnow [Fundulus multifasciatus). The larger 

 specimens were more abundant, apparently, in the canal than in the 

 river. They snapped at the hooks continually while I fished in certain 

 *' holes" in the canal for specimens of rare cyprinoids, and seemed to 

 have no fear about them, but took the hook a second and third time. 

 A specimen caught in this way, I think for the fourth time, had its 

 mouth so injured that 1 killed it. Its stomach on examination proved 

 to have the remains of seven minnows {Hybopsis), besides a large grass- 

 hopper, within it. The specimen measured just 3^ inches. 



During the past summer, I have seen fewer very small bass, but 

 several specimens much larger than those seen by me in 1873 were taken, 

 with a hook and line, at several points below Trenton, N. J. This fish 

 can be fairly considered as established in the Delaware River. 



6. — Goggle-eyed Perch, Pomoxys hexacanthus. 



A few specimens of this fine perch are caught every summer in the 

 Delaware River. As the first specimens that I met with were adult, I 

 concluded that they were purely " accidental"; mere stragglers as it were 

 from their proper habitat. In the summer of 1873 they were more 

 numerous, and I found several quite small specimens ; so it is quite 

 certain that a supply of them has been received from some locality, 

 but how or when, I have no knowledge. It may be possible that they 

 could reach the Delaware River through the Delaware and Chesapeake 

 Canal ; but I merely make the suggestion, knowing them to be a south- 

 ern species. They are frequently offered for sale iu the Trenton mar- 

 kets, as single specimens received with other fish. As an article of food, 

 they rank with white perch and rock-fish of the same size. 



7. — SUNFISH, Pomotis auritus. 



RiVER-suNPiSH, Ichthelis appendix. 

 Blue sunfish, Ichthelis incisor. 

 Spotted sunfish, Enneacanthus guttatus. 

 Banded sunfish, Mesogonistius chcetodon. 

 MUD-SUNFISH, Acantharcus pomotis. 



The above list comprises the several species of the popularly-called 

 " sunfish," or " sunnies," that frequent the river and our various small 

 ponds and creeks. There is what I believe to be a well-marked variety 

 also found in the Delaware of the I. appendix ; of more ruddy hues, the 

 I. rubricauda of Holbrook, and the " spotted sunfish," may prove to be 

 the obesus of Girard, or that may be distinct from the guttatus of Morris, 

 which is very abundant in our smaller streams. 



There is not one of the above list that has really any economic value, 



