BLACK BASS. 221 
round him, and by their numbers attract the bass, who 
dashes in among them, and while the rest make off, 
swallows the one with the worm, and of course himself 
falls a prey to the ingenious young fisherman. This, 
like the use of cray-fish, mice, swallows, and many other 
baits, may be excellent, but I have never tried it or 
them ; so long as the fish will take a fly, I fish with 
nothing else ; it is infinitely more exciting to kill one fish 
on the fly than ten with bait. 
Black bass are taken among the Thousand Isles in 
immense numbers, but not of any great size, rarely 
exceeding three pounds. In Lake Champlain, near 
Rouse's Point, and in the lakes of Canada, they grow 
larger. The largest, probably, never exceeding eight 
pounds. They are taken in most of the waters of the 
northern and northwestern States, especially in the 
JSTiagara and Detroit rivers, Lake St. Clair, Lake Erie 
and Lake Huron. They make their appearance from 
deep water in May and June, grow to great excellence 
in July, spawn in August, and are again in condition in 
September and October. They are a fine, noble game 
fish, and where trout are not to be had are well worthy 
of the sportsman's attention ; when captured, which can 
only be done by skill and care, they prove an excellent 
addition to the table. 
The fish usually known as trout at the South, albeit 
that name is applied to many varieties, is a species of 
black bass, and is taken by trolling with a rod and short 
line before the boat as it is rowed along. 
