PISCES. 2am 
placed these fish amongst the Cottoids. The genus Labraz is allied to Perca, 
but has scales on the two-spined operculum, and teeth, or prickles, on the 
tongue. ‘The most conspicuous species is the Labrax lineatus, the rock- 
fish, or striped-bass, of the United States, a fish of great excellence in the 
opinion of many persons, especially when taken in autumn. It is caught 
in the winter and spring along with the shad, and like it is an anadromous 
fish, running up from the salt-waters into the fresh streams for the purpose 
of spawning. It ‘attains a size of 60 to 70lbs., although more usually 
weighing from 4 to 20lbs. Its European analogue is the Labrax lupus, or 
bass, shown in pl. 82, fig. 10, and highly esteemed as an article of food. 
Other species occur in the United States, as L. mucronatus, or the white 
perch of the eastern waters, L. multilineatus, and others. The genus 
Lucioperca combines the general characters of perca with teeth like those 
of the pike. Its most striking resemblance is, however, to the salmon, for 
which reason it generally bears this name in the rivers of the interior of 
America. Luctoperca americana is the most abundant species, and, as 
already mentioned, is usually called salmon, sometimes pike, as in Lake 
Champlain. It is a bold, voracious fish, of great strength, and affords 
excellent sport to the angler. An allied species is found in the rivers of 
central Europe. Centropristis has a single dorsal, and an oblique tail ; 
preoperculum dentated, and operculum spinous ; teeth small and crowded, 
no canines. A common American species, C. nigricans, known as sea- 
bass, or black perch, is much esteemed as an article of food. Grystes also 
has a single dorsal, and a considerable resemblance to Centropristis ; 
having, however, the preoperculum entire, and the tail truncate. It occurs 
in various rivers of North America, and is represented by several species 
in the waters of the Mississippi and of the great lakes, as also in the 
waters of several streams having their outlets on the southern Atlantic 
coast. None have been found in the Potomac or Susquehanna ; and those 
met with in the Hudson River have been introduced from Lake Champlain, 
through the Hudson and Champlain canal. They are generally known as 
black bass in the North; another species of a different color in the South, 
being improperly called trout and white salmon. They afford excellent sport 
to fishermen, ranking in point of “game” qualities above most other fresh- 
water species, after the Salmonide. Their flesh also is excellent eating. 
‘Centrarchus has an oval, compressed body, with two flattened spines to the 
operculum, six or more spines to the anal fin; a single dorsal; and velvet- 
like teeth in both jaws, on the vomer, palatines, and the base of the 
tongue. Several species inhabit the waters of the United States; one of 
these, Centrarchus eneus, rock-bass, or black sunfish, being found in the 
waters of the Mississippi, and in the great lakes. This species is also 
highly prized for the sport it affords in fishing. The genus Pomotis is 
distinguished from the preceding, mainly by the presence of an opercular, 
membranous flap, posterior to the flattened spines. The palatines and 
tongue are without teeth. Species of this genus are numerous, and 
generally distributed, in North America. They are known as sun-fish, 
pumpkin-seed, sun-perch, and bream. 
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