18 



AMERICAN ANGLER'S BOOK, 



species have been added to tlie number since, it would be 

 difficult to say. 



It is somewhat remarkable, that in British works on 

 angling, we find only one species of this family described ; it 

 i.s a barred Yellow Perch, resembling our Perca fiavescens. 

 Cuvier describes comparatively few as being found in Europe; 

 while here the Percidse include as many fresh-water species 

 of game-fish, as all the other families combined. And our 

 anglers of the Atlantic States are not generally aware of the 

 great variety found in the Southern and Western States, and 

 the sport they afford to the fishers there. 



The distinguishing marks of the Percidse are, edges of gill- 

 cover or fore gill-cover, and sometimes both, denticulated or 

 pectinated like the teeth of a comb, or armed with spines. 

 Both jaws, the vomer and palatine, armed with teeth. First 

 rays of the dorsal, or entire first dorsal (if there be two), 

 armed with sharp points ; the first ray of the anal-fin being 

 always spinous ; and the ventrals with one or more spines. 

 The free edges of the scales are pectinated, and the ventral- 

 fins under the pectorals. From this latter peculiarity, the 

 ventral-fins being in close proximity to the throat, earlier 

 ichthyologists termed them Thoracic fishes. The sharp spines 

 of the fins have caused the Percidae to be placed amongst the 

 Acanthopterygii. According to Professor Agassiz's classi- 

 fication in reference to paleontology, they belong to the 

 Ctenoids — the third order of fishes in creation. 



The Yellow-barred Perch, although the type of the family, 

 is its least worthy representative. The splendid Rockfish, 

 and the Southern Bass belong to other genera. The latter, 

 which is found in all the Southern and Western States, 

 furnishes great sport to the angler. It is taken with minnow, 

 shrimp, spoon-bait, bob, and artificial flies. If by any dis- 



