Perca marina, pinna dorsi divisa: The Croker.
This Figure represents the common Size of the Fish, as they are
found in most of the Rivers in Virginia, but in deeper Waters,
as in the great Bay of Chesapeak they are taken sometimes
three Feet in Length. It is covered with Scales of a reddish Umber
Colour. The Iris of the Eye of a gold Colour; The Mouth wide, with
Rows of very small sharp Teeth. It had six Finns, one on the middle
of the Back of a triangular Form; one extending from that to the
Tail of a red Colour, two behind the Gills, and two under the Belly.
The Tail was red and notched.
This Fish is tolerable good Meat.
Perca marina rubra: The Squirrel.
These Fish are most commonly of the Size of this Figure, tho' some
of them grow to four times the Bigness: The Eye is large; the Iris
yellow; the Mouth rather small, with many small Teeth like those
of a Pearch: The whole Fish was red; having six Fins, one on the
Back strengthened with many large pointed Bones, behind which and
joining to it shoot fourth a long pliant sharp pointed Finn, it
had also a long Finn under the Abdomen, with another behind the
Anus, guarded by a strong sharp Bone annexed to it by a thin Membrane.
This is a good eating Fish.
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