224 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



now I simply refer you to the fish markets, not only of our large eities, 

 but also of small and remote towns; everywhere we find that the black 

 bass (by general consent considered ;is valuable for the table as for the 

 sportsman) is more common than the pike, and cheaper than the white- 

 fish (Marline). The 39 fish which, in 18G9, I placed in waters in Maine, 

 have increased so rapidly that about one hundred lakes and ponds are 

 full of them. Summer hotels and villas have been built on the shores of 

 some of these lakes, and thousands of visitors are attracted almost 

 exclusively by the large number of black bass. Many of our highest 

 authorities in matters relating to fish think that is f/^lish of the future. 

 One of our most recent and best works* is solely devoted to this fish. 

 The manufacturers of fishing-tackle have noticed a constantly increas- 

 ing demand for black-bass tackle. A large number of clubs have been 

 formed for the sole purpose of catching bass. It is also very remark- 

 able that, wherever the black bass has been introduced, the pike dis- 

 appears rapidly, proving the truth of the old saying: ' The strongest 

 holds the battle-field.'" 



4. — Value of the black bass for German waters. 



The black bass thrives best in large rivers having a strong current, 

 deep water, and a rocky or gravelly bottom. It will, therefore, be spe- 

 cially suited for those parts of Germany in whose waters the barbel 

 thrives. Excepting the migratory species the German fish-culturist has 

 no domestic fish which is suitable for these waters, and whose increase 

 he can regulate to any considerable extent. It is difficult to stock 

 rivers, above impassible dams, with migratory fish, for these go to the 

 sea when they are quite small, and are not able to return when they 

 have grown large. It is my opinion, therefore, that the black bass is 

 calculated to fill this gap. The same may possibly apply to the deep 

 lakes, in which no Coregoni, saiblings, or lake trout thrive; but I con- 

 sider it somewhat of a risk to place the black bass in waters where 

 trout and saibling live. 



An exceedingly valuable quality of the black bass is this, that it can 

 be easily caught. It is frequently very difficult to catch carp and 

 maranen, and the just objection is often made to the raising of these 

 fish, that it is useless to introduce or to increase fish which cannot be 

 caught. 



It will be of great interest to our sportsmen to learn that those anglers 

 who have become acquainted with the nature of the black bass esteem 

 it just as highly as the salmon and the trout. 



*James H. Herishall: "Book of the Black Bass." Cincinnati, 1881. 



