CHAPTER V 



THE PERCH FAMILY 

 (Percida) 



MOST of the species belonging to this family 

 are the dwarf perches, the beautiful little darters 

 of the clear streams. The only genera of impor- 

 tance as game-fishes are Stizostedion, the pike- 

 perches, and Perca, the yellow-perch. They are 

 characterized by an elongate, nearly round body ; 

 small, rough, and adherent scales; rather large 

 mouth with sharp teeth; spines on opercle, and 

 preopercle serrate; branchiostegals six or seven; 

 two dorsal fins, the first composed of spines, 

 the second of soft rays; the anal fin with two 

 spines. 



GENUS STIZOSTEDION 



Stizostedion vitreum. The Pike-perch. Body elongate ; back some- 

 what elevated; head 4; depth 5; eye 4; D. XIV-2O; A. II, 

 12; scales 10-125-25 ; head and cheeks sparsely scaled; canine 

 teeth on jaws and palatines ; opercle with small spines ; pyloric 



Stizostedion canadense. The Sauger. Body elongate and spindle- 

 shaped; head 3^5 depth 4^; eye 5; D. XIII-i8; A. II, 12; 



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