The Blue-Spotted Sunfish 



teeth; gillrakers well developed, long and stiff; pectoral bluntish, 

 shorter than head; scales moderate, }} to 50. 



This genus contains 5 known species widely distributed in 

 American waters. 



The only one of these species of Apomotis which attains 

 sufficient size or that is sufficiently abundant to be of any value 

 as a food or game-fish, is Apomotis cyanellus, the blue-spotted 

 sunfish or green sunfish. 



This beautiful little sunfish is found wholly west of the 

 Alleghanies and from the Great Lakes to Mexico. It is usually 

 abundant in all suitable waters from central Ohio and Indiana to 

 the Rio Grande. 



It is not often found in lakes or large streams but in the 

 smaller creeks, brooks and ponds it is an abundant and well- 

 known little fish. It does not attain a greater length than 6 to 

 8 inches and a weight of more than 4 or 5 ounces, but it is a 

 sprightly little fish and excellent for the pan. Like the pumpkin- 

 seed it is, where common, a prime favourite with the small boy. 

 It readily takes a hook baited with grub or angleworm and 

 would make a vicious fight for liberty if it were only larger. 

 In the streams of Nebraska, Kansas, South Dakota and south to 

 Texas, where game-fishes are not abundant the green sunfish is 

 a choice pan-fish. 



Head 3; depth 2^; D. X, 11; A. Ill, 9; scales small, 6 or 7- 

 45 to 55-16, 40 to 48 pores, 8 rows on cheek; gillrakers 

 X-|-io. Body rather elongate, becoming short and deep with age; 

 head large, with projecting snout; mouth rather large, maxillary 

 broad and flat, with a small supplemental bone, reaching nearly 

 to middle of eye; lower jaw projecting; dorsal spines quite low, 

 the highest scarcely longer than snout, 3 to 4 in head in adult, 

 longer in young; opercular spot smaller than eye, broadly mar- 

 gined with bronze, the black confined to the bony part; pecto- 

 ral short, not reaching anal, \^ in head; ventrals not reaching 

 vent. Colour, variable, the prevailing shade green, with a strong 

 brassy lustre on sides, becoming nearly yellow below; each scale 

 usually with a sky-blue spot and more or less of gilt edging, 

 giving an appearance of pale lateral streaks; besides these marks, 

 dusky or obscure vertical bars are often present, and the sides 

 are sprinkled with dark dots; vertical fins marked with blue or 

 green, the anal usually edged in front with pale orange; usually 

 a conspicuous black spot on posterior base of dorsal and anal 



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