274 FISHES OF NOETH CAROLINA. 



Genus MORONE Mitchill. White Perches. 



This genus includes 2 small species, both American, one found in the Miss- 

 issippi valley, the other on the Atlantic coast, Similar to Roccus, but with no 

 teeth at base of tongue, a shorter anal fin, stouter spines in first dorsal fin, and 

 dorsal fins more or less connected by a membrane. Body rather short and deep, 

 jaws nearly equal; edge of tongue with linear patches of teeth; lower margin of 

 preopercle finely serrate; scales rather large; second anal spine enlarged. 

 {Morone, a name of unknown significance.) 



339. MORONE AMERICANA (Gmelin). 

 "Percli"t "Black Perch"; "SUver Peroli"; White Perch. 



Perca americana Gmelin, Systema Naturse, iii, 1308, 1788; New York. 



Morone americana. Yarrow, 1877, 211; New and Neuse rivera. Jordan & Evermann, 1896, 1133, pi. cbcxxi, 



fig. 479. Smith, 1893a, 192, 196, 200; Pasquotank River, Edenton Bay, Roanoke River. Smith, 



1901, 134; Lake Mattamuskeet. 



Diagnosis. — ^Back somewhat elevated, depth .4 to .33 total length; head contained 2.75 

 to 3.33 times in length; eye .25 head, less than snout; gill-rakers long, 18 to 21 in number; 

 scales in lateral series 50 to 55, in transverse series 20; head scaly as far forward as nostrils; 

 dorsal rays ix + i,12, longest spine .6 head; anal rays iii,8 or iii,9, second spine as long as third 

 and stouter. Color: variable, ranging from almost black in ponds and certain brackish waters 

 to silvery white with faint longitudinal streaks 



Fig. 120. White Perch. Morone americana. 



This excellent little fish of the fresh, brackish, and salt waters of our east 

 coast ranges from South Carolina to the maritime provinces of Canada. While 

 essentially an anadromous species it is often landlocked in fresh water. Its most 

 common and appropriate name is white perch, but in North Carolina it is called 

 "silver perch", "black perch", or simply "perch". 



In Albemarle Sound, it is more abundant and more valuable than the yellov/ 

 perch, although scarcer than formerly; and in Currituck Sound it exists in 

 greater abundance than any other commercial species, The average weight of 

 those marketed is .5 to .75 of a pound, and the maximum weight is about 1.5 



