FOREST, LAKE, AND RIVER 



years would be of decided advantage when the 

 larger and stronger game fish were sought after. 



All the varieties have about the same character- 

 istics, merely differing in size and weight. Gen- 

 erally speaking, their manner of biting and of play 

 is almost identical. We all well remember that 

 we were our own teachers in our first fishing expe- 

 riences, practice and ingenuity alone guiding us. 



I doubt greatly, even to-day, if many older fish- 

 ermen have tried the fine art with these specimens ; 

 yet I know it would repay them, were they to do 

 so. The study of them is most interesting. At 

 one time I kept seven of the "pumpkin-seeds " in 

 an aquarium, and they afforded me much amuse- 

 ment, especially one chap who crowned himself 

 king. He, indeed, was the " boss." He selected 

 his own corner, and drove every intruder from it, 

 at times chasing them round and round, biting at 

 them at every chance, then again seeking his 

 chosen quarters and glaring fiercely when any one 

 of the others dared to come near. He always 

 succeeded in getting more than his share of the 

 food. These sunfish all lived long, and became 

 quite tame. 



The sunfish, notwithstanding plenty of small 

 bones, are good, sweet eating when properly 

 cooked. Most of us, doubtless, remember them 

 114 



