Chapter I: Introduction

In this volume are included all of the game-fishes of the United States east of the Rocky Mountains, except the salmons and trouts, and the tarpon, jewfish, and other fishes of large size, which are described in other volumes of this series. As a matter of convenience I have grouped the fishes in families, whenever possible, but in their sequence I have been guided chiefly by their importance as game-fishes, and not in accordance with their natural order. The latter feature, however, has been provided for in a systematic list on a subsequent page.

In order not to burden the text with matter that might not be of general interest, the technical descriptions of the fishes of each group are given in small type at the head of each chapter; and that they may be readily understood by the lay reader the following explanations seem necessary.

The length of the head is from the point of the snout to the hindmost point or margin of the gill-cover. The length of the body is from the point of the snout to the base of the caudal fin, the fin itself not being included. The depth of the body is from the highest point of the dorsal line to the lowest point of the ventral line, usually from the base of the first dorsal fin to the base of the ventral fin. The expression "head 5" means that the length of the head is contained five times in the length of the body; the expression "depth 5" means that the depth of the body is contained five times in its length; "eye 5" means that the diameter of the eye is contained five times in the length of the head. In describing the fins the spiny rays are denoted by Roman numerals, and the soft rays by Arabic numerals, and the fins themselves by initials; thus "D. 9" means that the dorsal fin is single and composed of nine soft rays; "D. IX, 10" means that the single dorsal fin has nine spiny rays and ten soft rays; when separated by a hyphen, as "D. X-12," it means that there are two dorsal fins, the first composed of ten spiny rays and the second of twelve soft ones; "A. III, 11" means that the anal fin has three spines and eleven soft rays. The expression "scales 7-65-18" indicates that there are seven rows of scales between the dorsal fin and the lateral line, sixty-five scales along the lateral line, and eighteen oblique or horizontal rows between the lateral line and the ventral line. The number of rays in the fins and the number of scales along the lateral line, as given, represent the average number, and are subject to slight variation; thus in some localities the number of rays in a fin may be found to vary one or two, and the number of scales along the lateral line may vary from one to five, more or less, from the number given in the descriptions.

I have adhered strictly to the nomenclature of the "Fishes of Middle and North America" (Bulletin, U.S. National Museum, No. 47), by Jordan and Evermann, and in the main I have followed the descriptions as recorded in that admirable work; but in many instances I have depended on my own notes.

The suggestions as to angling and the tools and tackle recommended may be confidently relied on, as they are in conformity with my own practice and are based on my personal experience, covering a period of forty years, on many waters, from Canada to the West Indies, and from the Atlantic to the Rocky Mountains.

JAMES A. HENSHALL.

BOZEMAN, MONTANA.
February 1, 1903.

SYSTEMATIC ARRANGEMENT OF THE FISHES DESCRIBED IN THIS VOLUME

FAMILY =SILURIDÆ=

=Ictalurus punctatus= (Rafinesque). =The Channel Catfish=.

FAMILY =CYPRINIDÆ=

=Cyprinus carpio=, Linnæus. =The German Carp=.

FAMILY =ELOPIDÆ=

=Elops saurus=, Linnæus. =The Ten-pounder=.

FAMILY =ALBULIDÆ=

=Albula vulpes= (Linnæus). =The Lady-Fish=.

FAMILY =SALMONIDÆ=

=Coregonus williamsoni=, Girard. =The Rocky Mountain Whitefish=.
=Argyrosomus artedi sisco=, Jordan. =The Cisco=.

FAMILY =THYMALLIDÆ=

=Thymallus signifer= (Richardson). =The Arctic Grayling=.
=Thymallus tricolor=, Cope. =The Michigan Grayling=.
=Thymallus montanus=, Milner. =The Montana Grayling=.

FAMILY =ARGENTINIDÆ=

=Osmerus mordax= (Mitchill). =The Smelt=.

FAMILY =ESOCIDÆ=

=Esox americanus=, Gmelin. =The Banded Pickerel=.
=Esox vermiculatus=, Le Sueur. =The Western Pickerel=.

=Esox reticulatus=, Le Sueur. =The Eastern Pickerel=.
=Esox lucius=, Linnæus. =The Pike=.
=Esox nobilior=, Thompson. =The Mascalonge=.

FAMILY =HOLOCENTRIDÆ=

=Holocentrus ascensionis= (Osbeck). =The Squirrel Fish=.

FAMILY =SCOMBRIDÆ=

=Sarda sarda= (Bloch). =The Bonito=.
=Scomberomorus maculatus= (Mitchill). =The Spanish Mackerel=.
=Scomberomorus regalis= (Bloch). =The Cero=.

FAMILY =CARANGIDÆ=

=Carangus crysos= (Mitchill). =The Runner=.
=Carangus latus= (Agassiz). =The Horse-eye Jack=.
=Trachinotus glaucus= (Bloch). =The Gaff Top-sail Pompano=.
=Trachinotus goodei=, Jordan & Evermann. =The Permit=.
=Trachinotus carolinus= (Linnæus). =The Pompano=.

FAMILY =RACHYCENTRIDÆ=

=Rachycentron canadus= (Linnæus). =The Cobia=.

FAMILY =CENTRARCHIDÆ=

=Pomoxis annularis=, Rafinesque. =The Crappie=.
=Pomoxis sparoides= (Lacépéde). =The Calico-bass=.
=Ambloplites rupestris= (Rafinesque). =The Rock-bass=.
=Archoplites interruptus= (Girard). =The Sacramento Perch=.
=Chænobryttus gulosus= (Cuvier & Valenciennes). =The Warmouth Perch=.
=Lepomis auritus= (Linnæus). =The Red-breast Sunfish=.
=Lepomis megalotis= (Rafinesque). =The Long-eared Sunfish=.
=Lepomis pallidus= (Mitchill). =The Blue Sunfish=.
=Eupomotis gibbosus= (Linnæus). =The Common Sunfish=.
=Micropterus dolomieu=, Lacépéde. =The Small-mouth Black-bass=.
=Micropterus salmoides= (Lacépéde). =The Large-mouth Black-bass=.

FAMILY =PERCIDÆ=

=Stizostedion vitreum= (Mitchill). =The Pike-perch=.
=Stizostedion canadense= (Smith). =The Sauger=.
=Perca flavescens= (Mitchill). =The Yellow Perch=.

FAMILY =CENTROPOMIDÆ=

=Centropomus undecimalis= (Bloch). =The Snook, or Rovallia=.

FAMILY =SERRANIDÆ=

=Roccus chrysops= (Rafinesque). =The White-bass=.
=Roccus lineatus= (Bloch). =The Striped-bass=.
=Morone interrupta=, Gill. =The Yellow-bass=.
=Morone americana= (Gmelin). =The White Perch=.
=Petrometopon cruentatus= (Lacépéde). =The Coney=.
=Bodianus fulvus= (Linnæus). =The Nigger Fish=.
=Epinephelus adscensionis= (Osbeck). =The Rock Hind=.
=Epinephelus guttatus= (Linnæus). =The Red Hind=.
=Mycteroperca venenosa= (Linnæus). =The Yellow Fin Grouper=.
=Mycteroperca microlepis= (Goode & Bean). =The Gag=.
=Mycteroperca falcata phenax=, Jordan & Swain. =The Scamp=.
=Centropristes striatas= (Linnæus). =The Sea-bass=.
=Centropristes ocyurus= (Jordan & Evermann). =The Gulf Sea-bass=.
=Centropristes philadelphicus= (Linnæus). =The Southern Sea-bass=.
=Diplectrum formosum= (Linnæus). =The Sand-fish=.

FAMILY =LOBOTIDÆ=

=Lobotes surinamensis= (Bloch). =The Triple Tail=.

FAMILY =LUTIANIDÆ=

=Lutianus jocu= (Bloch & Schneider). =The Dog Snapper=.
=Lutianus apodus= (Walbaum). =The Schoolmaster=.
=Lutianus aya= (Bloch). =The Red Snapper=.
=Lutianus synagri=s (Linnæus). =The Lane Snapper=.
=Ocyurus chrysurus= (Bloch). =The Yellow-tail=.

FAMILY =HÆMULIDÆ=

=Hæmulon album=, Curvier & Valenciennes. =The Margate-fish=.
=Hæmulon macrostomum=, Gunther. =The Gray Grunt=.
=Hæmulon parra= (Desmarest). =The Sailor's Choice=.
=Hæmulon sciurus= (Shaw). =The Yellow Grunt=.
=Hæmulon plumieri= (Lacépéde). =The Black Grunt=.
=Hæmulon flavolineatum= (Desmarest). =The French Grunt=.
=Anisotremus virginicus= (Linnæus). =The Pork-fish=.
=Orthopristis chrysopterus= (Linnæus). =The Pig-fish=.

FAMILY =SPARIDÆ=

=Stenotomus chrysops= (Linnæus). =The Scup=.
=Stenotomus aculeatus= (Cuvier & Valenciennes). =The Southern Porgy=.
=Calamus calamus= (Cuvier & Valenciennes). =The Saucer-eye Porgy=.
=Calamus proridens=, Jordan & Gilbert. =The Little Head Porgy=.
=Calamus bajonado= (Bloch & Schneider). =The Jolt Head Porgy=.
=Calamus arctifrons=, Goode & Bean. =The Grass Porgy=.
=Lagodon rhomboides= (Linnæus). =The Pin-fish=.
=Archosargus probatocephalus= (Walbaum). =The Sheepshead=.

FAMILY =KYPHOSIDÆ=

=Kyphosus sectatrix= (Linnæus). =The Bermuda Chub=.

FAMILY =SCIÆNIDÆ=

=Cynoscion nothus= (Holbrook). =The Bastard Weakfish=.
=Cynoscion regalis= (Bloch & Schneider). =The Weakfish=.
=Cynoscion thalassinus= (Holbrook). =The Deep-water Weakfish=.
=Cynoscion nebulosus= (Cuvier & Valenciennes). =The Spotted Weakfish=.
=Leiostomus xanthurus=, Lacépéde. =The Lafayette, or Spot=.
=Micropogon undulatus= (Linnæus). =The Croaker=.
=Menticirrhus saxatilis= (Bloch & Schneider). =The Kingfish=.
=Aplodinotus grunniens=, Rafinesque. =The Fresh-water Drumfish=.

FAMILY =LABRIDÆ=

=Tautogolabrus adspersus= (Walbaum). =The Cunner=.

FAMILY =EPHIPPIDÆ=

=Chætodipterus faber= (Broussonet). =The Angel-fish=.

FAMILY =BALISTIDÆ=

=Balistes carolinensis=, Gmelin. =The Turbot=.

FAMILY =PLEURONECTIDÆ=

=Pseudopleuronectes americanus= (Walbaum). =The Flounder=.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I PAGE

THE SUNFISH FAMILY, _Centrarchidæ_ 1

The Small-mouth Black-bass, _Micropterus dolomieu_ 3

The Large-mouth Black-bass, _Micropterus salmoides_ 30

The Rock-bass, _Ambloplites rupestris_ 52

The Sacramento Perch, _Archoplites interruptus_ 57

The Warmouth Perch, _Chænobryttus gulosus_ 58

The Blue Sunfish, _Lepomis pallidus_ 62

The Long-eared Sunfish, _Lepomis megalotis_ 65

The Red-breast Sunfish, _Lepomis auritus_ 67

The Common Sunfish, _Eupomotis gibbosus_ 69

The Calico-bass, _Pomoxis sparoide_ 73

The Crappie, _Pomoxis annularis_ 79

CHAPTER II

THE BASS FAMILY, _Serranidæ_ 85

The White-bass, _Roccus chrysops_ 86

The Yellow-bass, _Morone interrupta_ 90

CHAPTER III

THE SEA-BASS FAMILY, _Serranidæ_ (continued) 95

The Striped-bass, _Roccus lineatus_ 96

The White-perch, _Morone americana_ 110

The Sea-bass, _Centropristes striatus_ 115

The Southern Sea-bass, _Centropristes philadelphicus_ 118

The Gulf Sea-bass, _Centropristes ocyuru_ 119

CHAPTER IV

THE PIKE FAMILY, _Esocidæ_ 120

The Mascalonge, _Esox nobilior_ 122

The Pike, _Esox lucius_ 137

The Eastern Pickerel, _Esox reticulatus_ 149

The Western Pickerel, _Esox vermiculatus_ 153

The Banded Pickerel, _Esox americanus_ 154

CHAPTER V

THE PERCH FAMILY, _Percidæ_ 156

The Pike-perch, _Stizostedion vitreum_ 157

The Sauger, _Stizostedion canadense_ 164

The Yellow-perch, _Perca flavescens_ 165

CHAPTER VI

THE GRAYLING FAMILY, _Thymallidæ_ 173

The Arctic Grayling, _Thymallus signifer_ 176

The Michigan Grayling, _Thymallus tricolor_ 178

The Montana Grayling, _Thymallus montanus_ 181

CHAPTER VII

THE SALMON FAMILY, _Salmonidæ_ 203

The Rocky Mountain Whitefish, _Coregonus williamsoni_ 204

The Cisco, _Argyrosomus artedi sisco_ 207

CHAPTER VIII

THE DRUM FAMILY, _Sciænidæ_ 213

The Weakfish, _Cynoscion regalis_ 215

The Bastard Weakfish, _Cynoscion nothus_ 221

The Kingfish, _Menticirrhus saxatilis_ 221

The Croaker, _Micropogon undulatus_ 226

The Lafayette, _Leiostomus xanthurus_ 228

CHAPTER IX

THE DRUM FAMILY, _Sciænidæ_ (continued) 232

The Fresh-water Drumfish, _Aplodinotus grunniens_ 232

CHAPTER X

THE MINNOW FAMILY, _Cyprinidæ_ 236

The German Carp, _Cyprinus carpio_ 236

CHAPTER XI

THE CATFISH FAMILY, _Siluridæ_ 244

The Channel-catfish, _Ictalurus punctatus_ 244

CHAPTER XII

THE SHEEPSHEAD FAMILY, _Sparidæ_ 251

The Sheepshead, _Archosargus probatocephalus_ 252

The Scup, _Stenotomus chrysops_ 259

CHAPTER XIII

MISCELLANEOUS FISHES

The Cunner, _Tautogolabrus adspersus_ 264

The Flounder, _Pseudopleuronectes americanus_ 266

The Smelt, _Osmerus mordax_ 269

CHAPTER XIV

THE MACKEREL FAMILY, _Scombridæ_ 272

The Spanish Mackerel, _Scomberomorus maculatus_ 273

The Cero, _Scomberomorus regalis_ 278

The Bonito, _Sarda sarda_ 282

CHAPTER XV

THE GROUPER FAMILY, _Serranidæ_ 285

The Gag, _Mycteroperca microlepis_ 287

The Scamp, _Mycteroperca falcata phenax_ 291

The Yellow-finned Grouper, _Mycteroperca venenosa_ 294

The Rock Hind, _Epinephelus adscensionis_ 295

The Red Hind, _Epinephelus guttatus_ 297

The Coney, _Petrometopon cruentatus_ 299

The Nigger-fish, _Bodianus fulvus_ 300

The Sand-fish, _Diplectrum formosum_ 303

CHAPTER XVI

THE CAVALLI FAMILY, _Carangidæ_ 306

The Runner, _Carangus chrysos_ 307

The Horse-eye Jack, _Carangus latus_ 310

The Pompano, _Trachinotus carolinus_ 311