280 PERCOIDES. 



It is thought that the basse remains more con- 

 stantly on the coast, through the year, than almost 

 any other fish, being taken in every month, but 

 most valued in the keen, severely cold weather 

 of winter. They weigh from three to fifty pounds. 



A striped basse, weighing' forty pounds, was 

 taken by a colored servant on the banks of Har- 

 laem river, a little south of the bridge. The fish 

 was discovered by the man from the end of the 

 dock, which projected some distance into the 

 river. At times he would sail gently along past the 

 dock into quite shoal water, but how to capture 

 him was the question. No net, or hook and bait 

 was at hand, and as the golden opportunity might 

 not last long, our hero resolved to encounter him 

 single handed in his native element, and at a favor- 

 able moment he leaped from the dock directly upon 

 his back. The affrighted fish darted from under 

 him as though a shark was in pursuit, and as luck 

 would have it, took a direction for the shore, and 

 ran up nearly high and dry into the mud. Before 

 he could get fairly afloat again, and have plenty 

 of sea room to make his escape, the colored man 

 seized him by the gills, dragged him upon the 

 beach, and secured his prize. 



Not many years ago there was a strange and 

 fatal epidemic raging among the basse in Boston 

 harbor. Great numbers floated towards the navy 



