The dispersion relation of surface polaritons in the system anisotropi
c dielectric-metallic film-vacuum is obtained and the two dimensional
limit is discussed. Numerical calculations for alpha-quartz and films
of different thickness and conductivity are presented. The occurrence
and behaviour of stop modes is discussed. Stop below modes, previously
reported in superlattices, are shown to appear whenever both anisotro
py and charge carriers are present.