The Drum Family 235 



boring toward the bottom when hooked, it fur- 

 nishes fair sport, and with considerable jeopardy 

 to light tackle, when of large size. The angler 

 is at first elated with what he imagines to be 

 a fine bass until its identity is established, when 

 his enthusiasm gives place to infinite disgust. 

 And this is one reason why it is despised in 

 northern waters, and very unjustly, too, for it is 

 game enough, so far as resistance is concerned, 

 and is entitled to that much credit. In southern 

 waters it bites freely at small minnows, crawfish, 

 or mussels, and is there better appreciated and 

 has a fair reputation as a game-fish. I have 

 enjoyed fishing for it with light tackle on White 

 and St. Francis rivers in Arkansas, and some 

 of the streams in Mississippi. Light black-bass 

 tackle is quite suitable for it. 



