98 



THE BASSE, OR SEA PERCH 



Labrax lupus Cuv. 



PLATE II. 



Perca labrax, Linrueus. Bar commun, Labrax lupus, 

 Cuv. et Valen. Hist. Nat. des Poissons, i. 56. The 

 Basse, Pennant. Donovan, plate xliii. 



B. 7; D. 91.12; A. 3.11 ; C. 17 j P. 16 j V. 1.5. 



THIS fish, by most writers on the British 

 species, is said to be tolerably common on the 

 coasts of the south of England during the summer, 

 while, on the Dutch side, there are established 

 fisheries of it. It was well known to the ancients, 

 and is mentioned by many of their poets. It was 

 celebrated as well for the excellency of its flavour, 

 as for the stratagems it used when encircled by 

 nets, or fastened by the hook. Its general length 

 is from ten to eighteen and twenty inches, though 

 it is said to grow much larger. The specimen, 

 however, mentioned by Duhamel, as thirty pounds 

 in weight, Cuvier thinks he must have mistaken 

 for some other fish, but seems to have less doubt 

 of those which have been recorded of fifteen and 

 twenty pounds in weight, having received one 

 from Abbeville three feet in length. The form 



