FISHES OF PENNSYLVANIA. 133 



tributaries of the Ohio. The white bass weighs from one to three 
pounds, and its flesh is considered almost if not equally as good as 
that of the black bass. It prefers the deeper parts of rivers and thrives 
best in lakes and ponds. In April and May they leave the deeper 
waters and goin near shore or to the mouths of rivers where they 
spawn. The spawning period is in May and June. 
The white bass feeds upon minnows, crawfish and other fresh water 
crustaceans, also minute mollusks or shell fish, and it is said to devour 
many young white fish upon the spawning grounds of that species. 
It is a game fish and affords good sport to the angler. 
Genus MORONE Mircuttt. 
151. Morone americana (Gmeti). 
The White Perch. (igure 15.) 
The genus Morone of Gill differs from Roecus in having the dorsals joined, the 
spines strong, the anal with ten soft rays, its spines not graduated, the jaws subequal 
and base of the tongue toothless. It includes the common white perch and the yel- 
low bass. 
The white perch has an oblong body, with the back convex, mouth moderate, the 
maxillary reaching a little beyond the front of the eye; the eye is nearly as long as 
the snout, and is contained five and one-half times in the length of the head; the 
head is about one-third of total without caudal; the depth of body is contained two 
and two-thirds times in total without caudal; the fourth anal spine is the longest, 
two-fifths length of head; the second is stouter and slightly shorter than the third, 
its length one-third that of head. 
D. IX, I, 12; A. III, 10. Scales 7-51-11. The dorsal fins are separated by a very 
deep notch, but connected by membrane; upper parts grayish or greenish; sides 
silvery ; young individuals have pale, longitudinal streaks. 
The white perch inhabits the sea coast from Nova Scotia to South 
Carolina, ascending streams and has been introduced into numerous fresh 
water lakes and ponds, where it thrives equally as well as in the sea. In 
Pennsylvania, according to Professor Cope, it is very common in the 
Delaware and Susquehanna rivers. In the latter its upward movement 
is prevented by obstructions so that it occurs only in that portion of 
the river below Columbia. 
The average length of the white perch is about nine inches and its 
weight one-half pound or less, but numerous specimens measuring four- 
teen inches and weighing two pounds or more have been taken, es- 
pecially in New England waters. 
It is said that the white perch formerly extended south to Florida and 
the Gulf of Mexico, but this is discredited by competent observers. 
The perch of Lake Ponchartrai is very likely the species now known 
in many portions of the western states as the fresh water drum— Ap- 
lodinotus grunniens. 
The white perch is a lover of brackish water, and may be found in 
tidal creeks in vast numbers associated with mummichogs, silversides 
and eels, feeding upon shrimp and minnows. Spawning takes place in 
