■^-^^^i^'4^^y^^^__^ 





■''<;i? 









THE SEA BASSES. 



So gaat het hier : dat's Werelts overvloed, 

 (Waar mee de Mensch word koninglijk gevoed 

 Door guile gunst des milden gevers) doet 

 Hem vaak vergeeten. 



Steenbrassem, Steur en Dartien en Knor-haan. 

 'E.nZee-Baars die geen vorst sal laten slaan 

 En Kabellau : en Salm, die (wel gebraan). 

 Is vet, en voedig. 

 Jakob Steendam, t' Lou/vait Nieiu Nederland, i66i. 



44'T^HE SEA BASS is another gentleman among his finny comrades," 

 wrote Frank Forester. He belongs to the family ,6'(?/'r^«/^(^, the 

 members of which are similar in form and habits to the Perches, from 

 which they are distinguished by certain anatomical characters, scarcely 

 tangible to persons not expert in ichthyology. This family contains a 

 very large number of species, some of which are to be found in all the tropi- 

 cal and temperate seas. On our Atlantic coast there are over twenty 

 kinds, while in California, there are four, at least, which are of economic 

 importance. 



The Sea Bass is also known south of Cape Hatteras as the " Blackfish," 

 and is the most important species on our coast. In the Middle States the 

 Sea Bass is called "Black Will," "Black Harry," and " Hannahills ;" 

 about Newport and New Bedford, "Bluefish," and at New Bedford also, 

 "Rock Bass." Curiously enough, the Southern name, " Blackfish," is 

 in use at Oak Bluffs, on Martha's Vineyard, and, it is said, also in New Jer- 



