108 AMERICAN ANGLER'S BOOK. 



THE STEIPED BASS OF THE OHIO. 

 Labrax chrysops : Rafinesque. 



I adopt the scientific name given by the naturalist above 

 quoted, with a condensation of his description. 



Body oblong, silvery, with five parallel longitudinal stripes 

 on each side, two of which reach the tail. Lateral line diag- 

 onal, but straight. Head brown above. Mouth large. First 

 dorsal fin eight spines ; second, one spine and fourteen rays ; 

 pectorals, sixteen rays ; ventrals, one spine and five soft rays : 

 anal, one spine and fourteen rays ; branchiostegous rays, six. 

 The tail is forked, roseate, tipped with brown. 



Though this fish is longer in its proportions, it may be the 

 same species as the Striped Bass found at the mouths of the 

 fresh- water bayous and rivers that fall into Lakes Ponchar- 

 train and Borgne, and along the Gulf coast ; the latter being 

 modified by a change of its habitat, becoming deeper and 

 more compressed. This species was called " Eockfish" by the 

 early settlers of Kentucky, who supposed it to be identical 

 with the Eockfish of the Atlantic States. It differs, however, 

 in the number of stripes on its sides ; the Eockfish has eight 

 and this only five ; the other has two spines on the opercle, 

 and this only one ; there is also a difference in the number 

 of spines and rays of the fins. 



This fish has been taken in the Mississippi above its junc- 

 tion with the Missouri, weighing as much as six pounds 

 though that size is extremely rare. I have never taken it 

 above a pound. The largest are taken with a live minnow, 

 and no doubt afford excellent sport. 



