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 Richmond -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 bro-ivn 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. 

 pl3. vl+5. A 2 + 5. c 17. 



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

 (Lahrax lupus,') which may indeed be called a 

 sea-perch, is very common around the more 

 southern shores of our island, and abounds also 



