THE STRIPED BASS. 29 



In Great Britain a Bass of ten or twelve pounds is considered a fine 

 example, but there arc instances on record of individuals weighing 22 

 and 28 pounds, and those in Southern Europe do not appear to grow much 

 larger. 



Few of our food-fish are more generally popular. The small ones, 

 weighing less than a pound are fried, and are excellent pan-fish. Those 

 from one to three pounds, are recommended for broiling, and from five to 

 eight pound-fish are considered the best to boil. The very large ones are 

 cut in transverse sections for boiling, and never lack purchasers. De 

 A^oe says that Bass are in the best condition in September, October and No- 

 vember. 



THE EUROPEAN BASS. 



In Great Britain the Bass is not highly esteemed, but in France, Spain, 

 Italy and Greece, is considered one of the finest of fishes. 



"He is a gallant fish and a bold biter," said Frank Forester; and 

 Genio Scott puts him first among the game-fishes of coast and estuary. 

 The Striped Bass is deservedly a favorite with the angler, whether he fishes 

 with shrimp or clam bait in the brackish creeks, entices Avith the artificial 

 fly at the Little or Great Falls of the Potomac, trolls in the swift tideways, 

 tolls with menhaden bait from the stages at Basque and Cuttyhunk, still- 

 baits in the bays, or "heaves and hauls" in the wild surf of the outer 

 shores. The last mentioned method is perhaps the most peculiar, and de- 

 serves a few words of description. In Scott's " Fishing in American 

 Waters," and in Roosevelt and Green's "Fish Hatching and Fish Catch- 

 ing," may be found descriptions of the various kinds of tackle used in 

 Bass-fishing, and graphic, breezy stories of adventurous days passed in this 

 pursuit. Mr. Scott does not hesitate to claim for his favorite the first 



