122 AMERICAN ANGLER'S BOOK 



BUFFALO PERCH. WHITE PERCH OF THE OHIO. 



Abloden grunniens : RAFINESQUE. 



Although this fish is known by the above common names, 

 it is not a species of Percidae, but belongs to an entirely different 

 family, that of Scienidae. It is the only Scienoid found in 

 our rivers, and is confined to those on the western side of the 

 Alleghanies, which flow into the Gulf of Mexico. I have 

 placed it amongst the species of this family, only because it 

 has the common name of Perch. 



Rafinesque's description of this fish, which was published 

 nearly half a century ago, is quite interesting. I quote from 

 his work on the fishes of the Ohio : 



"Entirely silvery, upper lip longer, lateral line curved 

 upwards at the base, bent in the middle and straight poste- 

 riorly, tail lunate, first dorsal fin with nine rays, the first 

 vary short, the second with thirty-five rays, the first spiny 

 and short. 



" The vulgar names of this fish, are White Perch, Buffalo 

 Perch, Grunting Perch, Bubbling Fish, Bubbler, and Muscle 

 Eater. It is one of the largest and best found in the Ohio, 

 reaching sometimes to the length of three feet, and the weight 

 of thirty pounds, and affording a delicate food. - It is also one 

 of the most common, being found all over the Ohio, and even 

 the Monongahela, and Allegheny, as also in the Mississippi, 

 Tennessee, Cumberland, Kentucky, Wabash, Miami, and 

 all the large tributary streams, where it is permanent, since it 

 is found in all seasons except in winter. In Pittsburgh it 

 appears again in February. It feeds on many species of 



