CHAPTER V 



THE PERCH FAMILY 

 {Perctda) 



Most of the species belonging to this family 

 are the dwarf perches, the beautiful little darters 

 of the clear streams. The only genera of impor- 

 tance as game-fishes are Stizostedion, the pike- 

 perches, and Perca, the yellow-perch. They are 

 characterized by an elongate, nearly round body; 

 small, rough, and adherent scales; rather large 

 mouth with sharp teeth ; spines on opercle, and 

 preopercle serrate; branchiostegals six or seven; 

 two dorsal fins, the first composed of spines, 

 the second of soft rays ; the anal fin with two 

 spines. 



GEXUS STIZOSTEDION 



Stizostedion vitreum. The Pike-perch. Body elongate ; back some- 

 what elevated; head 4; depth 5; eye 4; D. XIV-20; A. II, 

 12; scales 10-125-25 ; head and cheeks sparsely scaled; canine 

 teeth on jaws and palatines ; opercle with small spines ; pyloric 

 oceca 3. 



Stizostedion canad^nse. The Sanger. Body elongate and spindle- 

 shaped; head 3^; depth 4i ; eye 5; D. XIII-18 ; A. II, 12; 



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