Near-infrared observations of galaxies in Pisces-Perseus I. H-band surface photometry of 174 spirals

We present near-infrared, H-band (1.65 mu m), surface photometry of 174 spi ral galaxies in the area of the Pisces-Perseus supercluster. The images, ac quired with the ARNICA camera mounted on various telescopes, are used to de rive radial profiles of surface brightness, ellipticities, and position ang les, together with global parameters such as H-band magnitudes and diameter s(1). The mean relation between H-band isophotal diameter D-21.5 and the B- band D-25 implies a B-H color of the outer disk bluer than 3.5; moreover, D -21.5/D25 depends on (global) color and absolute luminosity. The correlatio ns among the various photometric parameters suggest a ratio between isophot al radius D-21.5/2 and disk scale length of similar to 3.5 and a mean disk central brightness similar or equal to 17.5 H-mag arcsec(-2). We confirm th e trend of the concentration index C-31 with absolute luminosity and, to a lesser degree, with morphological type. We also assess the influence of non -axisymmetric structures on the radial profiles and on the derived paramete rs.