152 



AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 



its, I have ne-^er yet myself enjoyed the pleasure of catching 

 him either with the fly, the spoon, or the shiner." 



Robert B. Roosevelt ("Game Fish of the North," 1862) 

 writes more intelligently of Black Bass and Black Bass fish- 

 ing than any of his contemporaries, because he wrote in the 

 light of considerable personal experience in fishing for this 

 magnificent game-fish in the St. Lawrence basin. 



Thad Norris ("American Angler's Book," 1864), although 

 having no personal experience in Black Bass fishing, is, as 

 usual, quite correct, for his day, in his description of the 

 species, for he described them carefully from actual specimens 

 and the best authorities (Holbrook, Agassiz), but beyond very 

 fair descriptions he gives very little information. 



Genio C. Scott ("Fishing in American Waters," 1869), 

 although the latest angling writer of the period under consid- 

 eration, has less to say, and apparently knew less of the 

 Black Bass than any of his predecessors. 



NOMENCLATURE. 



There are but two species of Black Bass, the correct names 

 of which are the Small-mouthed Black Bass {JSTicroptcrus 

 dolomicu, Lac) and the Large-mouthed Black Bass {J\Iicrop- 

 terus salmoidcs, [Lac], Henshall). The numerous local or 

 vernacular names bestowed upon these two species in various 

 parts of the country have been the cause of great confusion, 

 and have often caused the truth-seeking angler to doubt 

 whethei there were one or a dozen species. Thus in 

 Southern Virginia the Large-mouthed Bass is known as 

 "Chub," as in North Carolina it is called "White Salmon," 

 "Welchman," or "Trout-Perch," while throughout the entire 

 South and Southwest both species are generally known as 

 "Trout." In Eastern Kentucky the Small-mouthed Bass is 

 "Jumping Perch." In the North and West both species are 

 known as "Bass," with the addition of various adjectives 

 expressive of gameness, coloration, or habitat, as "Tiger 



