47 



dusky stripes on the sides. D. IX-I, 14; A. Ill, *>. Scales 

 55. Length 15 inches. 



Canada and northern United States. The silver bass may 

 owe its origin to land-locked striped bass. This fish, too, has 

 been planted into Greenwood Lake by the New Jersey Fish 

 Commission. It has been introduced abroad. 



riorone americana {Gmelin). 



White Perch. 



Bod>- oblong, head pointed, back elevated. Spines strong. 

 Mouth moderate. Olivaceous bluish, sides silvery, with faint 

 lines, chin violet when removed from the water. D. IX-1, 12; 

 A. Ill, 9. Scales 50. Length to 10 inches. 



Atlantic coast north of South Carolina. The white perch is 

 distinctly a brackish water fish, found all the year around, and 

 runs up into perfectly fresh water; it can be land-locked with 

 good results. In the tidal parts of streams, this perch is about 

 the most common fish. They go in large schools and play 

 about one spot for a long time ; an angler meeting with such a 

 swarm may catch a hundred -or more w T ithin an hour, often, 

 three at a time. I have on several occasions found a long 

 green, brackish water (Enteromorpha) alga in their stomachs, 

 indicating that they sometimes eat vegetable matter, though 

 perhaps only for the minute organisms found upon it. A good 

 aquarium fish in slightly salt water. 



Family Sciaenidae. 



Croakers; Drums. 

 Body elongate, compressed ; skull cavernous with wide 

 muciform channels. Teeth in villiform bands, none on palate. 

 Lateral line continuous, sometimes extending over the caudal 

 fin. The air bladder is large with many, often curiously 

 shaped appendages or lobes, which structure seems to enable 

 these fishes to emit grunting or croaking sounds. Ear bones 

 large. Dorsal deeply notched. A large and widely distributed 

 family, marine with few exceptions. 



Leiostomus xanthurus Lac. 

 Spot; Goody; Lafayette. 

 Profile convex, body robust, compressed. Bluish or violet, 

 sides silvery with many oblique dark bars, a dark ocellum be- 



