The White Perches 



GENUS MORONE MITCHILL 



The White Perches 



This genus differs from Roccus chiefly in having the dorsal fins 

 joined, the spines stronger, the anal rays III, 9 (instead of III, 12), the 

 spines not graduated, the jaws subequal, and no teeth on base of 

 tongue. In all other important respects the 2 genera agree. 



The 2 known species are both American and both excellent game- 

 and food-fishes. 



a. Body with 7 very distinct longitudinal black lines on side, each in- 

 terrupted posteriorly interrupta, 376 



aa. Colour, green or olivaceous, and silvery, with faint streaks. 



americana, 377 



Yellow Bass 



Morone interrupta Gill 



This handsome fish is found in the lower Mississippi Valley and 

 north to St. Louis and Cincinnati. It occurs also in certain waters in 

 northern Indiana, notably Tippecanoe, Eagle, Pike, Center, and Chap- 

 man lakes in Kosciusko County, and in Eel River at Logansport, from 

 which place we have recently examined a specimen. Thirty years ago 

 they were very abundant in the small lakes mentioned, and even now 

 a few are caught every year, usually best after a June freshet. 



This species reaches a foot to 18 inches in length and a weight of 

 5 pounds. Those usually seen do not exceed i to 2 pounds, though 

 examples of 3 pounds are not rare. It is a splendid game-fish, even 

 superior to the black bass, in the opinion of some of its admirers; and 

 as a pan-fish it takes very high rank. 



Head 3; depth 2|; snout 4^; eye 4^; D. X, 12; A. Ill, 9 or 10; 

 scales 7-50 to 54- 1 1 . Body oblong-ovate, the back much arched ; head 

 depressed, the snout somewhat pointed, the anterior profile concave; 

 eye large; preorbital finely serrate; mouth small, somewhat oblique, 

 maxillary reaching middle of eye, about 3 in head, somewhat scaly; 

 dorsal and anal spines stout. 



Colour in life, brassy yellow, with about 7 very distinct black lon- 

 gitudinal lines, those below lateral line interrupted posteriorly, the pos- 

 terior parts alternating with the anterior. 



376 



