FISHES OF CHESAPEAKE BAY 
245 
strong spines, the soft part similar to that of the dorsal; ventral fins rather large, inserted a little 
behind base of pectorals; pectoral fins moderate, not reaching tips of ventrals, 1.4 to 1.7 in head. 
Color variable, mostly silvery, often greenish to bluish and blackish above; sides sometimes 
brassy, frequently with irregular, dark longitudinal lines; fins often all more or less dusky; ventrals 
sometimes white; pectorals often plain. Large individuals often with bluish luster on head; 
young less than 4 or 5 inches in length usually silvery gray, never with blue on head. 
Many specimens of this species, ranging from 55 to 280 millimeters {2% to 11 inches) in length, 
were preserved. No individuals smaller than the ones preserved were seen in salt and brackish 
water. The plain coloration and the strong spines in the fins are among the distinguishing characters 
of this common and well-known fish. The young do not differ greatly from the adult. The white 
perch is essentially an anadromus species, but it is not infrequently landlocked in fresh water. 
The food of this fish according to Smith (1907, p. 275) consists of minnows, shrimps, and other 
animals, and Bigelow and Welsh (1925, p. 258) mention small fish fry of all kinds, young squid, 
shrimps, crabs, and various other invertebrates, as well as the spawn of other fish. The contents 
of 130 stomachs of this fish taken in Chesapeake Bay consisted of fish, crustaceans of various kinds 
and sizes, annelids, and insect larvae. A small amount of vegetable debris, too, frequently is present. 
The larger individuals had fed mainly on fish. Shrimp, Mysis, and annelids also are eaten by the 
larger fish. Young 4 inches and less in length had fed mainly on annelids, amphipods, isopods, 
copepods, and insect larvae. 
The white perch spawns from April to June, according to published accounts. Smith (1907, 
p. 275) gives a short season for the Albermarle, N. C., region, beginning between April 1 and 10 and 
lasting 10 days. Bigelow and Welsh (1925, p. 259) state that in southern New England the white 
perch breeds in April, May, and June. It has been learned through the present investigation that 
in Chesapeake Bay spawning occurs not only during April and May but that it may occur under 
certain conditions during December, for the Fish Hawk took 10 ripe males and 3 ripe females on 
December 9 and 10, 1915, at the following localities: Thomas Point Light, Sandy Point, and Sharps 
Inlet Light, in depths varying from 9^ to 21 fathoms. The ripe fish ranged in length from 5^ to 
7M inches. It can not be concluded, however, that spawning takes place regularly at this season 
of the year, as no other ripe fish were taken in the winter months during subsequent collecting in 
the deeper holes of the bay. Further investigation relative to the winter spawning of this fish is 
highly desirable. Fish in spawning condition occur regularly in the shallow shore waters in ApriL 
The earliest date upon which ripe fish (two males, taken at Buckroe Beach, Va.) were taken is April 
10, 1922. 
According to Welsh (field notes) the spawning season was at its height at Havre de Grace on 
April 29, 1912. In this same locality many spawning fish were seined on May 8 to 10, 1922, in 
3 or 4 feet of water (fresh) along the immediate shores. In one haul of a 300-foot seine, 600 males 
and 196 females 3 to 7 inches in length were taken. Nearly all the larger fish were ripe. In three 
■£> '/ r 
