52 AMERICAN FISHES. 



rays ; first dorsal, fifteen spines, first three short, fourth and fifth long- 

 est ; second dorsal, two short spines, seventeen soft rays. The yentrals 

 are placed, as in the subbrachial Malacopterygii, immediately below, 

 and a little behind the pectorals. 



The dorsal outline is slightly curved, and descending abruptly to 

 the snout, above the operculum ; the lateral line is nearly concurrent 

 with the dorsal outline ; ventral outline much curved. 



The pectoral fins are golden yellow ; the ventrals and anal, ruddy 

 orange ; dorsals, transparent yellowish green, mottled with blackish 

 gray. Head, blackish brown above. Gill-covers, golden yellow, 

 mottled with purplish gray. Back, above the lateral line, purplish 

 brown, with a golden spot on the edge of every scale, giving it a beau- 

 tiful dappled hue. The sides down to the pectorals, and in a line 

 thence to the anal, beautifully mottled with vivid golden yellow and 

 purplish brown, running in irregular wavj' diagonal lines, upward and 

 backward. Belly pure white. 



This is a beautiful fish, and as good and game as he is beautiful. 



In Seneca Lake these fish will rarely take the bait in trolling or 

 spinning ; but in Cayuga they are constantly so taken with Shiners, or 

 by trolling with two hooks about two and a half inches apart, baited 

 with a frog, one hook through the lip, the other through the thigh, 

 which, as the frog is drawn along, gives it a natural swimming motion. 



The Pike Perch fights hard and pulls very strongly. The same 

 tackle as for Pickerel is the best. 



His flesh is delicate and delicious ; boiled, he is best with parsley 

 and butter or egg sauce ; but in no way is he other than a good table 



