12 BOOK OF THE BLACK BASS. 



tific history of the Black Bass, as heretofore understood 

 and accepted in this country, from its first description by 

 Lacepede down to the present time. 



This representative American fish was first brought to 

 the light of science in a foreign land, and under the most 

 unfavorable auspices. Its scientific birth was, like Mac- 

 ' duff's, untimely; it was, unha])pily, born a monstrosity; 

 its baptismal names were, consequently, incongruous, and 

 its sponsors were, most unfortunately, foreign naturalists. 



It has been, heretofore, considered by American natural- 

 ists that the first scientific description of a Black Bass was 

 that published by Lacepede, about the year 1800, in the 

 work just referred to. This description was founded upon 

 a drawing of a Black Bass, and accompanying manuscript 

 notes sent to him by M. Bosc, from the vicinity of Charles- 

 ton, South Carolina, with the local name of "trout," or 

 "trout-perch." This figure, and its accompanying de- 

 scription, were said to be so uncertain and inaccurate, that 

 it has been considered very doubtful which species of 

 Black Bass was intended to be represented. However, 

 Lacepede named it Labrus salmoides (Labre salmoide) — 

 the "trout-like" Labrus {to7'asse) — in accordance with its 

 general appearance and vernacular name. 



It has been held by American ichthyologists that it was 

 after this, in 1801-2, that Lacepede received his first ex- 

 ample of a Black Bass. This was a fine adult specimen 

 of the small-mouthed species, but, unfortunately, it was an 

 abnormal specimen, with a deformed dorsal fin, the last 

 rays having been bitten off and torn loose from the others 

 when the fish was young. In conformity with this acci- 

 dental peculiarity, Lacepede named it 3Iieropfcrus dolo- 

 mieu — Dolomieu's "small-fin" — he supposing that the little 



