THE 'WHITE BASS. EOCCUS CHRTSOPS. 



THE WHITE BASS AND THE YELLOW BASS. 



Subtle. Has he bit ? Has he bit ? 



Face. And swallowed too, my Subtle. I have given him line, and now he plays i' faith. 



Subtle. And shall we twitch him ? 



Face. Through both the gills. 



Ben. Jonson, The Alchemist, 1611, Act. ii, Sc. r. 



npHE White Bass, or Striped Lake Bass, Roccus chrysqps, is often con- 

 founded with the Striped Bass, which it closely resembles. It may 

 easily be distinguished by the presence of thirteen, instead of eleven, soft 

 rays in the anal fin, as well as by the greater size of its scales, of which 

 there are about fifty-five rows, instead of sixty or more. 



It is most abundant in the Great Lake region, although it has a wide 

 distribution in the Ohio and upper tributaries of the Mississippi, and is 

 found in many streams farther south. It frequents chiefly the lakes and 

 ponds and the deeper parts of the rivers. It feeds upon minnows and the 

 like, usually taking the hook readily, and is considered gamy by the 

 angler. As a food-fish it ranks high, being little inferior to the black- 

 bass. Its usual weight is from one to three pounds. The White Bass is 

 said to be an excellent fish for cultivation in artificial ponds. Like most 

 of its relatives, this species spawn in late spring. 



"It is often taken in the Ohio River," writes Jordan, " and frequents 

 chiefly deep or still waters, seldom ascending small streams. 



