WHITE BASS OF THE LAKES. 955 



127. Roccus CHRYSOPS (Rafinesque) Gill. 

 'Wliite Bass of tlie Liakes; Striped Bass. 



Parca chryaops, Rafisbequb, Ich. Oh., 1820, 22. 



Lepibema ckrysops, Eapinksqub, Ich. Oh., 1820, 23. 



Labrax chryiops, Gill, Proc. Acad. Sci. Phila., 1860, 20 (not of Girard). 



Boocus chrysopa, Gill, Proc. Acad. Sci. Phila., 1860, 113 and 1861, EO.— Cope, Proo. Acad. 

 Sci. Phila.. 1865, 83.— Milner (1874), Kept. U. 8. Fish CommiBsion, 1872-3, 6.— 

 Jordan (1875), Ind. Geol. Surv., 1874, 212; Ball. Buffalo Nat. Hist. Soc, 1876, 92; 

 Man. Vert., 1876, 226.— Nelson, Ball. Ills. Mas. Nat. Hist., 1876.— Jordan and Cope- 

 land, Bnll. Buffalo Soc. Nat. Hist., 1876, 136 —Jordan and Gilbert, Klippart'sEept. 

 Fish Commissioner Ohio, 1878.— Jordan, Man. Vert., 2d Ed., 1878. 



Labrax muUilineaius, Cdvier and Valekcibnnks, Poissons, ili, 1830, 588.— Kirtland 

 Bost. Jonrn. Nat. Hist., v, 1845, 21.— DbKat Fishes N. Y., 1842, 24.— Storer, 

 Synopsis (in Mem. Amer. Acad., New Series, ii), 1846, 274. — Gunther, Cat. Fishes, 

 i, 1859, 67. 



Labrax notatua, Smith, Richardson, Fauna Boreali-Apaerioaci, iii, 1836, 8. — DkKat 

 Fishes N. Y., 1842, 14.— Storer, Synopsis, 1846, 274.— Gunther, Cat. Fishes, i, 

 1859, 67. 



Labrax albidus, DeKay Fishes N. Y., 1842, 13.— Storer Synopsis, 1816, 275.— Gunther, 

 Cat. Fishes, i, 1859, 63. 



Labrax oaculatii, Filippi, Revue et Mag. Zoologie, v, 1853, 164.— Gukther, Cat. Fishes, 

 i, 1859, 65. 

 Silvery, tinged with golden below the lateral line and with reddish above ; sides with 



blackish or dusky longitudinal lines, 4 or 5 above the lateral line, 1 through which the 



lateral line runs, and a variable number of more or less distinct ones below it, the latter 



sometimes more or less interrupted or transposed, so as to appear like ancient church 



music; dorsal outline much curved, second anal spine J length of bead; axis of body 



rather below the middle of its depth; head conical, slightly depressed at the nape; 



month small, nearly horizontal ; maxillary reaching middle of pupil ; head about 3J in 



length ; depth about 2^ ; eye large, its diameter equal to the length of the snout ; D. 



IX-I, 14 ; A. Ill, 12 ; scales 7-55-13. Length 10 to 15 inches. 

 Habitat, Great Lake Region, Upper Mississippi and Ohio Valleys and northward. 



Diagnosis. — This species may be known from Roccus interrup'.us, the only 

 one of the Bass which it particularly resembles, by the fact that the two 

 dorsal fins are entirely separated. The coloration is much more silvery 

 and the dark stripes are less conspicuous in Roccus chrysops. 



Habits. — This species is generally abundant in the lakes, where it is 

 known as the White Bass. Its flesh is very similar to that of the Black 

 Bass, and is similarly well- flavored. In the Ohio River it seems to be 

 less common, but it is frequently taken. The species frequents chiefly 

 deep or still waters, seldom ascending small streams. It is said to thrive 

 well in ponds. It is a gamey fish, although in this respect inferior to 

 either species of Black Bass. 



