RIVER FISH AND FISHING. 373 



fish of medium size. Body deep, with high-arched back ; 

 head small, with sharp teeth in the jaws and the roof of 

 the mouth. The edges of the gill-covers are serrated, with 

 a spine on the lower part. Colors as follows : Back, 

 deep olive-green, with broad black bars, gradually becom- 

 ing white towards the belly. It has, however, many varie- 

 ties and shades of color, sometimes being found, especially 

 in the large clear spring lakes of the inland country, of a 

 rich golden yellow, barred with dusky bands. There is a 



small variety known as the " sunfish," or " pumkin seed," 

 mottled with various colors, and a great favorite with boy 

 anglers. The dorsal fin is furnished with spinous pro- 

 longations, so sharp that it can scarcely be handled with 

 impunity by the angler. It thrives best in large tidal 

 rivers, where it seeks the point at which the water is usu- 

 ally brackish, and grows there to an extent never seen 

 elsewhere. It is a slow-growing fish, requiring many years 

 to arrive at its full size. The perch spawns in the 

 months of March and April. It is a gregarious fish, and 

 is very tenacious of life. 



