120 AMERICAN ANGLER'S BOOK. 



PIKE PERCH. OHIO SALMON. 



Lucioperca Americana: Cuvier. 



Of the many misnomers given to fisli, that of " Salmon," as 

 applied to this, is the most inappropriate. It has as few of 

 the characteristics of the true Salmon as the Southern Bass 

 has of the Trout. Still we are not disposed to find fault with 

 rustic anglers because, in the absence of scientific knowledge, 

 they have given what seemed to them the most fitting name 

 for it. 



Anglers who look into books on ichthyology are at a loss 

 to know why this fish, with its elongated body and general 

 appearance so unlike the Perch, should have been placed in 

 the family Percidae. The scientific name " Lucioperca" (Pike 

 Perch), adopted by Cuvier, indicates its affinity to the Pike 

 as well as the Perch. Recent ichthyologists, however, 

 amongst whom is Mr. Theodore Gill, are in favor of placing 

 it in a sub-family, ^' Percinae." 



Having no specimen at hand, we copy from Mr. Gill's 

 "Synopsis of the sub-family Percinae," and his description of 

 this genus : — 



"Body slender, elongate, fusiform, covered with scales 

 arranged in oblique rows. Head semiconical, quite broad, 

 with cheeks and opercles generally covered with scales; 

 isolated patches of scales on the sides of the posterior part 

 of the head ; rest of the head covered with naked skin. Pre- 

 opercle serrated. Opercle armed with from one to five spines. 



