BIITCHILL ON THE FISHES OF NEW-YORK. 415 



Small ones are catched by the boys, from the wharves, and boats, 

 everywhere near the city. 



Their greatest run is late in the fall. Instead of going away on the 

 approach of winter, the striped basse seeks refuge in bays, ponds, and 

 recesses, where he may remain warm and quiet. Here the fishermen 

 find him, and make great hauls during the coldest season, when very 

 oreat numbers are brought to market in a frozen state. At this time 

 it is usual to take some of the very large and heavy ones. Yet 1 have 

 seen a dozen at a time of the weight of fifty pounds each, in the New- 

 York market, earlv in October, while the weather was very mild. 



He is also taken in seines during the summer, and in autumn. In- 

 deed, there is no fish that stays more steadily with us, all the year 

 round, than the rock ; and he is found of all sizes, to suit all sorts of 

 palates. 



(a) P. M. interrupta. There is a variety of this fish, which con- 

 sists chiefly in an irregularity of the side-lines. For here their paral- 

 lelism is broken ; and their integrant parts, the specks, and spots, re- 

 semble confused rows of printing types. I have seen this interruption 

 among the stripes, between the gill-opening and dorsal fin. It also 

 occurs among the rows below the lateral line, about the middle of the 

 body ; and occasionally in other parts. 



(b) P. M. alternata. There is, in some individuals of this species, a 

 further variety. This consists of a row of dots or spots, longitudinally, 

 between each of the stripes, or lines ; making alternate courses of 

 spots and lines. This diversity occurs most commonly in the larger fish, 

 and may be natural to them, though I have considered it as a variety, 

 and do now note it so. 



2. Sea Basse. (Perca varia.) With undivided tail, and speckled 

 sides and fins. 



Length fourteen inches ; depth almost three. Weighs, when large, 



