APPENDIX. 



313 



sold to farmers along the New Jersey and Long Island coasts for 

 fertilizer trade. The fresh-water mussels ( Unionidx) are of much 

 value as food for mammals and birds. The shells are used in mak- 

 ing pearl buttons. 



MUTTON-FISH (Zoarces anguillaris). A food fish found on the At- 

 lantic coast from Delaware to Labrador. It is also called the "eel- 

 pout," "mother-of-eels," "congo eel," "ling," and "lamper eel." 

 It reaches a length of about 20 inches and a weight of 3 pounds. 

 The name is also given to the snapper (Lutianus analis) of Florida. 



NAMAYCUSH. See Lake trout. 



NANNINOSE. See Clam. 



NARWHAL (Monodon monoceros). A dolphin found ?long the 

 northern coast of Alaska and in the Arctic Ocean ; also known as the 

 "unicorn." It is 10 to 14 feet long, and bears a tusk 9 feet long. 

 It is captured for its tusks, oil, and flesh. 



NORWAY HADDOCK. See Rosefish. 



OCTOPUS. -See Cuttle-fish. 



OLD WIFE. See Menhaden. 



OSWEGO BASS. See Black bass. 



OTTER ( Mustelidse) . The fresh-water otter (Lutra canadensis) is 

 widely distributed over the United States. The sea-otter (Enhy- 

 dris marina), highly prized for its skin, is found in the North Pa- 

 cific. Both are rare. 



OYSTER (Ostrea mrginica). The most important bivalve found on 

 the coast. There are two classes, "native" and "plants." The 

 former are found on the entire coast; the latter in localities where 

 the cultivation of the oyster is particularly profitable. Oysters are 

 obtained by dredging, raking, and tonging, and are very extensively 

 used in the canning industry. The shells are used in manufacturing 

 lime and cement and for building highways. Native oysters will 

 open about 1 gallon to the bushel; plants do somewhat better. 

 Oysters are graded as "extras," "boxes," "culls," and "cullin- 

 teens," according to age, the "cullinteens" being the youngest. 



PADDLE-FISH (Polyodon spathula). A ganoid fish, allied to the 

 sturgeon, found in all the larger streams of the Mississippi Valley. 

 It reaches a length of 3 or 4 feet. It is a poor food fish, but the roe 

 is extensively used for caviar. Local names are "spoonbill," 

 "duckbill cat," and "shovelfish." 



PEARL OYSTER. An oyster found on the California coast and in 

 the Gulf of California. The shells are used in manufacturing 

 various useful and beautiful articles. 



PERCH (Perca flavescens). This fish, the true perch, is found 

 throughout the Great Lakes region and the rivers of New England 

 and the states east of the Alleghenies as far south as Georgia. 

 "Yellow perch" and "ringed perch" are names in common use; 

 "striped perch" is used at Lake Vincent. Its usual length is 

 about 1 foot and its weight generally less than 2 pounds. It is of 

 moderate value as a food fish, and is caught with hook and line and 

 in pound nets and gill nets. 



The name "perch" is also given to the large-mouth black bass 

 (Micropterus salmoides) and to the small-mouth black bass (M. 

 dolomieu) in the Southern states; to the chogset (Taulogolabrus 

 adspersus) in localities in Massachusetts; to the fresh-water drum 

 (Aplodinotus grunniens) in the Ohio River; and to the surf-fishes 

 (Embiotocidie) on the Pacific coast. "Black perch" is applied to 

 the triple-tail (Lobotes surinamensis) in South Carolina, and to the 

 blue surf-fish (Embiotoca jacksoni) on the Pacific coast. "Chin- 

 quapin perch " is applied to the crappie (Pomoxis annularis) in the 

 lower Mississippi ; "gray perch" to the fresh- water drum (Aplodi- 

 notus grunniens) in the Ohio River; " log perch " to a darter (Percina 

 caprodes); "pikeperch" iothwrsM-eyed pike (Stizostedwn vitreum)', 

 "red perch " to the rosefish (Sebastcs marinus) on the coast of Maine; 

 "ringed perch" to the perch (Perca Jlavescens) ; "river perch" to a 

 surf-fish (Hyslerocarpus traski) of California; "Sacramento perch" 

 to a sunfish (Archoplites intemtptus) of the Sacramento and San 

 Joaquin Rivers; "silver perch" to the yellowtail (Bairdiella chry- 

 sura) in New Jersey; "striped perch " to the perch (Perca flavescens) 



at Lake Vincent; "white perch " to a surf-fish (Phanerodonfurcalus) 

 on the California coast; to a bass ( Morone americana) on the Atlantic 

 coast; to the fresh-water drum (Aplodinotus grunniens) in the Ohio 

 River; and "yellow perch" to the perch (Perca Jlavescens). 



PERIWINKLE. A common name for the sea snail (Littorina) and 

 whelk (Fulga), which are used for bait and sometimes for food on 

 the north Atlantic coast. It also constitutes a large portion of the 

 food supply of various fishes. 



PICKEREL (Esox reticulatus). A food fish found in streams and 

 ponds along the Atlantic coast from Maine to Alabama. In the 

 Southern states it is usually called "jack." It reaches a weight of 

 7 or 8 pounds; averages about half as much. 



The name "pickerel" is also applied to the true pike (Esox 

 lucius) in the upper lakes; to the "wall-eyed pike" (Stizostedion 

 vitreum) in Lake Erie and Saginaw Bay; and to the sauger (Stizos- 

 tedion canadense). The wall-eyed pike (S. vitreum) is also called 

 "yellow pickerel" about Lake Erie. The brook pickerels (E. 

 americanus and E. vermiculatus) are found, respectively, along the 

 Atlantic coast and in the Mississippi Valley. "Salt pickerel" and 

 "medium pickerel" are trade names. 



PIGFISH. A name applied to the genus Orlhopristis of the family 

 of grunts, found on the southern coast. 



PIKE (Esox lucius). A food fish found in the Great Lakes region; 

 also called "pickerel." It is distinguished from allied species by its 

 color, which is uniform brown, green, or black, with numerous elon- 

 gate white blotches upon the sides. It averages 4 to 8 pounds in 

 weight. They are caught with hook and line and in gill nets and 

 pound nets. The name "pike" is also applied to the wall-eyed 

 pike or pike perch (Stizostedion vitreum) in the upper lakes, and to 

 the Sacramento pike (Ptychocheilus oregonensis) in the Columbia and 

 Sacramento Rivers. "Gray pike," "sand pike," "ground pike," 

 etc., are names for the sauger (Stizostedion canadense). 



PIKE PERCHES (Stizostedion vitreum and 5. canadense). The 

 "wall-eyed pike" (S. vilreum) otherwise known as "glass-eye," 

 "pike perch, ""yellow pike, ""dory, "and "blue pike "on the Great 

 Lakes; as "salmon," "jack," "okow," "blowfish," and "green 

 pike " in other localities. It is found in the large streams and ponds 

 east of the Missouri; it is an excellent food fish and may reach a 

 weight of 20 pounds. The sauger or sand-perch (S. canadense) is 

 smaller and less important as a food fish. It is especially abundant 

 in the Great Lakes, but extends to Montana, Tennessee, and 

 Arkansas. 



PILOT-FISH (Naucrates ductor). A pelagic fish of no economic 

 importance, and seldom taken on our coast. It is about 12 inches 

 long, and is generally found in the company of ships and sharks. 



PINFISH. See Sailor's choice. 



PLAICE. A flat fish found on both coasts of America. The win- 

 ter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) is a common food fish 

 of New England. Other species are known as "rusty-dab," "eel- 

 back flounder," "craig-fluke," "pole-flounder," "flukes" on the 

 Atlantic coast; as "great starry flounder," "slippery sole," etc., 

 on the Pacific coast. See Flounder. The true plaice (Pleuronectes 

 platessa) is a European species not found in American waters. 



POQY. A name applied to the menhaden (Brevoorlia) tyrannus 

 north of Cape Cod, to the moonfish (Chxtodipterus faber) and the 

 scup (Stenotamus chrysops) along the southern coast, and to the 

 surf-fish (Damaiichthys argyrosomus) on the coast of Oregon. 



POLLACK (Pollachius virens). A food fish of importance, found 

 mainly off the New England coast. It sometimes occurs as far south 

 as Virginia. The average weight is about 10 pounds. They are 

 caught with seines, nets, and hand lines. For food they are sold 

 fresh, salted, and dried. The sounds are used in the manufacture 

 of glue, the livers are sold in large quantities for the manufacture of 

 oil, and the tongues are cut out and sold fresh. 



POMPANO, or PAMPANO (Trachinotus carolinus). An excellent 

 food fish, found on the Atlantic coast from Cape Cod to the Gulf, 

 being very common on the Florida coasts. They average 8 to 10 



