202 STONE BASS. 



prize, appears as well from Oppian's direct assertion, as his 

 descrii^tion of the fishermen's proceedings, which involved no 

 little skill and patience. He first made a vessel or chamber 

 of wicker-work with a large door, not unlike the larger 

 lobster store-pot now employed to secure these criistaceous 

 captives after they have been caught. These he baited with 

 roasted crabs or cuttlefish, and j^laccd it near the rocks fre- 

 quented by these fishes, with the door in the side left open. 

 The fishes would gradually collect together, but he was in 

 no haste to obtain them, and continued to furnish new bait 

 as it became devoured by the fish; for his object was, not 

 only to secure at one haul a large number, but by feeding 

 to fatten them as much as possible. IVTien everything had 

 succeeded the door of the trap was closed, and the capture 

 secured. 



The example described was eighteen inches long, and six 

 deep, exclusive of the fins; body thick and stout. Head bony, 

 a high ridge 'on the gill-covers; teeth in jaws and palate 

 small, numerous; border of each plate of the gill-covers ser- 

 rated; also a large bony serrated jilate at the origin of the 

 body, above the gill-covers. Scales firm, over the body. 

 Dorsal fin long, exjDanded towards its termination, with eleven 

 spinous and twelve soft rays; in the ventral six, the first a 

 strong spine, with short spinous processes along its outward 

 edge. Anal fin with twelve rays, of which the first three are 

 spinous. Tail straight. 



