58 BRITISH FISH AND FISHERIES. 



considered as extremely large, yet there are 

 instances on record of perch being captured 

 weighing six, eight, and even nine pounds ; 

 the ponds at Kichmond-park, as we are in- 

 formed by Mr. Yarrell, have yielded perch of 

 four pounds. 



Closely allied to the perch is the ruffe, or 

 pope, (Acerina vulgaris,) common in the canals 

 and slow shaded streams of England, especially 

 such as have a gravelly bed. This fish seldom 

 exceeds six inches in length ; the scales are 

 rough, and the dorsal fin is single. In habits 

 and manners it resembles the perch, and its 

 flesh is excellent. " No fish that swims is of a 

 pleasanter taste ; he is a greedy biter ; and they 

 will usually lie, abundance of them together, in 

 one reserved place, where the water is deep 

 and runs quietly." The general colour of this 

 fish is brown above, passing into a yellower 

 tint on the sides, the under surface being 

 silvery. The back dorsal fin and tail have 

 darker spots or markings ; the lateral line is 

 very strongly marked. Fin- rays, D 14 + 12. 

 p 13. v 1 + 5. A 2 + 5. c 17. 



A sea fish, termed the basse, or sea-dace, 

 (Labrax lupus,} which may indeed be called a 

 sea-perch, is very common around the more 

 southern shores of our island, and abounds also 



