66 BRITISH FRESH-WATER FISHES 
It would not repay anybody’s trouble to go fly-fishing for 
perch, seeing that the fish swim so deep as a rule. The best 
: chance is in hot weather, when perch sometimes resort 
pinning : 
aed to the shallows. A red spinner or small Alexandra 
* will then allure them readily enough ; and it is a 
pretty thing to see two or three striped fellows racing after 
the fly. But they do not make a dash and quick turn at it, 
after the manner of the trout ; and, on the whole, the perch 
may be pronounced distinctly the prize of the bottom-fisher. 
The Bass, or Sea-Perch (Labrax lupus) 
Fin ForMvLa. [ TEETH. 
First Dorsal: 8 or g spines. All villiform, without 
Second Dorsal: 2 or 3 spines, 9 to 11 rays. canines; on the pa- 
Pectoral: 16 rays. latal bones, vomer, 
Ventral: t spine, 5 rays. and tongue. 
Anal: 2 spines, 9 or fo rays. 
Caudal: 17 rays. 
Of the bass I cannot speak from personal observation, 
having never had opportunity either of watching it in its 
The Bass, or native haunts or of angling for it. Indeed, I feel 
eg some doubt as to the propriety of including it 
‘upus). among fresh-water fishes, seeing that it is essentially 
a marine species, and although it frequently enters rivers, I 
am informed that it is seldom found above the tidal waters. 
Nevertheless, high spring tides carry this fish at times far into 
the domain of the landsman angler, affording sport under 
such conditions in the Arun, for instance, a clear mile above 
Arundel. Ancient and modern writers agree in recommending 
that bass should be kept in fresh-water ponds to be fattened 
on a liberal diet for a month or six weeks before it is killed 
for the kitchen. Yarrell speaks of one Mr. Arnold who used 
to keep these fish in a lake in Guernsey. 
The name “bass” seems to be but a variant of “ barse,” 
