THE BLACK BASS OF THE KANKAKBE. 
BY |G. ob. 
THERE was a time when the Kanka- 
kee river was far-famed, and when the 
willowy rod and polished reel flashed 
o’er its waters in the hands of some of 
the most expert anglers between the 
Mississippi and the eastern coast. But, 
alas! what the drouth did for some of 
the Western states last year and the 
year previous, it has also done for the 
Kankakee. The stage of water has 
been the lowest during the past sum- 
mer months that was ever known. 
Just now, however, the condition is 
somewhat improved; the recent rains 
having caused a perceptible rise, and 
the black bass is, therefore, more frisky 
and more considerate of the wishes of 
the never-tiring allurer. 
The river has undergone some won- 
derful changes aside from its con- 
stantly varying conditions of depth or 
shallowness. The pickerel and pike, 
which but two years ago could be taken 
with a hook and line in large quantities, 
has finally succumbed to the ravages of 
the villainous pirate who employs the 
spear and net. The marshes east of 
here overflow in the spring, covering 
thousands of acres that are dry during 
the balance of the year. When the 
water recedes, it goes off quickly, and 
the pickerel is left in the big ditches 
and low places, where they soon be- 
come the victims of illegitimate fish- 
ermen. Occasionally we strike one, 
but not often. A Chicago party took 
a twenty-eight pounder this spring. 
But the black “bass, the pride of 
every angler who is not willing to con- 
cede everything to the trout, is multi- 
plying very rapidly. The Kankakee is 
literally full of black bass fry, and 
CARTER. 
where the little’ ones are there may 
be found the old veteran also. And 
what beauties some of them are! The 
small-mouth predominates, but the 
big-mouth gives a tug at the line suf- 
ficiently often to make one aware of 
his presence. 
The writer divides his time quite 
evenly between running a country 
newspaper and angling in. the old 
Kankakee. If there is any prefer- 
ence given to either occupation, we 
try not to neglect the latter. There 
are items of news to gather in the 
morning, a church sociable, dodgers to 
print perhaps, proofs to read and cor- 
rect, and occasionally a renewal sub- 
scription to keep up the supply of fish 
hooks, etc. Then dinner comes, and 
then a few more finishing touches, and 
a word of reprimand to the ‘‘ devil.” 
By that time it is 3 o’clock, and the 
fever is of to its full height. Down 
comes the rod, the high water boots 
are adjusted, and with them and a 
minnow basket he sets out. A twenty 
foot seine soon provides a fine score of 
shiners for bait, and in the middle of 
the Kankakee, with the water up to his 
jack-knife pocket, he fans the air with 
an ‘‘allixator line’? and “Cincinmeam 
bass hook.” 
Last Monday afternoon all the weath- 
er conditions seemed to be very propi- 
tious. There was a cool soft breeze 
blowing from the south-west, and a 
few fleeting clouds hovering around in 
the neighborhood of the river. "Twas 
a charmer, but I had resolved to stick to 
the type case and lead pencil through- 
out the entire day, just as a matter of 
business policy, for really there wasn’t 
