CHAPTER XXII. 



THE YELLOW PIKE PERCH. 

 Luciopcrca Americana. 



This is a very fine fish, both fur table and rod exercise, and 

 seems to partake of the nature of both the pike and perch 

 family ; like the trout he loves the more bold and rapid parts 

 01 rivers and lakes, and also the deep holes, and under weeds 

 and grass, and with some of the fraternity is considered equal 

 in vigor and activity to the favorite trout. A friend who sent 

 two from Albany this winter (1849), as specimens, says they 

 are taken in Lake Ontario, and also in the Mohawk, where 

 they are called Mohawk Pike. It has also been ascertained 

 that they abound in the Susquehanna and its tributary streams, 

 where the true pickerel also are found. They grow in the 

 above mentioned places to the weight of ten or twelve pounds, 

 are fearless in attack, roaming the streams a terror to the finny 

 race, often endeavoring to gorge more than they can swallow. 



Color. — " Yellowish olive above the lateral line ; lighter on 

 the sides, silvery beneath ; head and gill covers mottled with 

 green, brownish and white ; chin pale flesh color ; pupil dark 

 and vitreous ; sides mottled with black and yellowish ; mem- 

 brane of the spinous dorsal transparent, with a few dark dashes ; 

 the upper part of the membrane tipped with black ; the posterior 

 part of the membrane, including the two last rays, black ; the 

 soft dorsal fin light yellowish, spotted with brown in such a 

 manner as to form irregular longitudinal dusky bars ; pectoral 

 fins yellowish olive, with maculated brownish bars ; ventral 

 fins transparent yellowish ; anal fin of the same color, with a 

 broad whitish margin ; caudal fin with irregular dusky bars." 

 — Dekay. 



