30 SUPI'LEMENT TO THE BOOK OF THE BLACK BASS. 



ful ; and no angler can tell from its manner of " fighting," 

 whether he is fast to a large-mouthed or a small-mouthed 

 Bass, until he has the ocular evidence. 



But what are the game qualities of a fish? As I under- 

 stand it, they are: its aptitude to rise to the artificial fly, 

 its readiness to take a natural bait, and its exhibition of 

 strength and cunning, persistence and activity, in its efi"orts 

 to break away after being hooked. 



Both species of Black Bass rise equally well to the arti- 

 ficial fly; though, if there be any difference in this respect, 

 I think the large-mouthed Bass has the advantage. Re- 

 cently I received a letter from Count Von dem Borne, of 

 Germany (who has been very successful in introducing and 

 propagating the Black Bass in that country), saying that 

 he has observed that the large-mouthed Black Bass rises 

 better to the artificial fly than the small-mouthed Bass. 

 ]My own experience rather favors this view, and it has like- 

 wise been brought to my notice by anglers in various parts 

 of the country. 



The current but erroneous opinion that the small-mouthed 

 Bass exceeds the large-mouthed Bass in game qualities, has 

 been very widespread, and has been much enhanced by the 

 indorsement of several of our best ichthyologists, who un- 

 fortunately, however, are not, and do not pretend to be, 

 anglers, but who imbibed this opinion second-hand from 

 prejudiced anglers who ought to have known better. But 

 as the Black Bass is becoming better known, and fly-fishing 

 for the species is being more commonly practiced, this un- 

 fair and unmerited comparison is fast dying out. 



Two or three years ago, the fishery editor of " Forest 

 and Stream," Mr. Fred. Mather, solicited the opinions of 

 anglers on this subject, from which I select a few from 



