THE TOM-COD. 317 



able condition for a long time, provided the air be 

 carefully excluded from the vessels in which they are 

 kept. 



The Tommy-Cod varies in length from six to ten 

 inches, and in weight from a quarter of a pound to a 

 pound. It is a very pretty little fish, and in appearance 

 so much resembles the common cod, that were it not for 

 the fact of its coming up the river to spawn, it would be 

 difficult to persuade the ordinary observer of the fact of 

 its being a full-grown and distinct species. 



The Common Perch of our own country is not found 

 in Canada, but the Yellow Perch {Perca flavescens)^ 

 which is a variety, is a very handsomely marked fish, the 

 under parts being of a golden yellow, the back a dull 

 green, the dorsal fins dark, the pectoral and anal ones 

 red. It is common in almost every lake and river, and 

 takes both minnow and worm very boldly. 



Among other varieties is P. acuta, which is found in 

 Lake Ontario, and in other waters, but among so many 

 larger and better fish none of them attract much notice. 



Except the salmon, there is hardly any other fish 

 that afi'ords more thorough sport, or deserves to rank 

 higher in every way, than that prince of fresh-water 

 fish, the Black-Basse {Euro nigricans). 



Though not particularly difiicult to tempt, it is yet 

 sufficiently so, and must be approached only with a fine 



