FISHES OF MINNESOTA 73 



spines; lateral line not exten(lin<i- on the caudal tin. Dorsal s})ines 

 stiff; ventral fins thoracic; pectoral fins well developed; air-blad- 

 der present; stomach with pyloric cjcca; intestine short. 

 But one genus and one species known in the state. 



Genus ROCCUS Mitchill. 



ROCCUS chrysops (Rafinesque). Striped Bass. White Bass. White Lake Bass 



General color silvery, yellowish on the under parts; sides with 

 narrow, dusky, longitudinal lines. Body compressed, deep, back 

 elevated; head rather conical; mouth medium sized, horizontal, 

 jaws about equal in length: eye about equal to the snout; maxil- 

 lary extending to the middle of the eye, no supplemental bone; a 

 deep notch in the subopercular bone; preopercle serrate; head 

 scaly. Gill rakers long and slender, X+14; longest dorsal spine 

 contained 2 times in the head. Head contained 3^ times in the 

 length. Depth 3|. Eye 5 in the head. Dorsal fin IX-I, 14. Anal 

 III, 11 or 12. Scales 10-55 to C5-15. Base of the tongue as well as 

 the jaws, vomer and palatines with teeth. Length 15 inches. 



So far as recorded this fish has been taken at but one place in 

 the state and that is Big Stone Lake, where it is reported as com- 

 mon. Several specimens were taken at this place in the summer 

 of 1892 (AVoolman & Cox). 



Family SCIJENIDJE. The Drums. 



Body compressed, much the shape of a bass, somewhat elongate 

 all parts well covered with ctenoid scales, the scales extending 

 over the bases of the vertical fins; lateral line well developed, ex- 

 tending on the caudal fin. Head large, covered with scales; teeth 

 present on the jaws; no supplemental maxillary bone; upper jaw 

 somewhat protractile; pseudobranchia well developed; a slit be- 

 hind the fourth gill; gill rakers present; branchiostegal rays de- 

 veloped; gill membranes free from the isthmus. Dorsal fin deeply 

 notched, the soft part much longer than the spinous. Anal fin with 

 1 or 2 spines. Ear bones (otoliths) well developed; air bladder 

 large; pyloric creca few. 



Carnivorous fishes which have the power of producing a peculiar 

 grunting sound, supposed to be made by forcing air from the main 

 portion of the air bladder into one of its smaller divisions. The 

 family is represented in the state by but one genus and one species. 



