The Perch Family 165 



a more pointed head and smaller eye. It is dis- 

 tributed through the Great Lake region and in 

 the upper portions of the Missouri, Mississippi, 

 and Ohio rivers. It grows to a length of twelve 

 to fifteen inches. Its color is paler than the pike- 

 perch, grayish above, with brassy sides, which are 

 marked by several blackish blotches or patches, 

 hence "rattlesnake pike." 



It is not nearly so good a food-fish as the pike- 

 perch, and is not of much importance as a game- 

 fish. It may be fished for with the same tackle as 

 that recommended for the calico-bass or crappie, in 

 the same situations mentioned for the pike-perch. 

 I have taken it with a gaudy fly on the Ohio and 

 Muskingum rivers, in Ohio, and in the Big Sandy 

 and Tygert Creek, in Kentucky ; also by still-fish- 

 ing and trolling on Lake Erie about the Bass 

 Islands. The meaning or etymology of the name 

 " sauger " is unknown. 



THE YELLOW-PERCH 



( Perca flavescens) 



The yellow-perch was first described by Dr. 

 Mitchill in 18 14, from the vicinity of New York. 

 He named \t flavescens, "yellowish," owing to its 

 coloration. It is closely allied to the perch of 



