CHAPTER V. 



GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. 



"You may remember that I told you, Genner says there arc no pikes 

 in Spain ; and doubtless, tliere was a time, about a liundred or a few more 

 years ago, when there were no carps in England."— Izaak Walton. 



The Black Bass is wholly unknown in the Old World, 

 except where recently introduced, and exists, naturally, 

 only in America. The original habitat of the species is 

 remarkable for its extent, for, with the exception of the 

 New England States and the Atlantic seaboard of the 

 Middle States, it comprises the whole of the United States 

 east of the E,ocky Mountains, Ontario (Canada), and East 

 Mexico, So far, but one species, the large-mouthed Bass, 

 is known to inhabit Florida, but it is my opinion that the 

 small-mouthed species will also be found in some of the 

 streams in the western part of 'that State. 



Of late years the range of the Black Bass has been ex- 

 tended through the efforts of public-spirited individuals, 

 and by the Fish Commissionei's of various States; so that 

 at the ])resent time this noble fish may be said to have a 

 " local habitation and a name " in every State of the Union. 

 It has also been successfully inti-oduccd into England. 



The following account, by the late James W. Milner, 

 A.ssistant U. S. Fish Commissioner, of the introduction 

 of the Black Bass into new waters, will be found very in- 

 teresting and instructive, and is taken from the Rejiort 

 of the U. S. Fish Commissioner for the years 1872-7.'>: — 

 (154) 



