32 



THE SMALL-MOUTHED BASS 



a pail of frogs, another of minnows, and a box of one hun- 

 dred worms; also, extra hooks, lines, and a spare rod. 



Fortunately, I did not overlook the provender: pork 

 and beans, hard tack, as well as pipes, tobacco and matches. 



The wind was south by west, the sky overcast, and the 

 air warm and humid: an ideal day for fishing. 



We sailed slowly out to a set of reefs known as the Three 

 Sisters, and I advised anchoring in a certain spot; which 

 was accomplished, not without some difficulty, on account 

 of the strong currents running over the sunken reefs. 



Spotted Darter 



(From Photograph by B. A. Bensley) 



While my companion was engaged in this work I got my 

 rod and line ready, baited my hook with a frog, and landed 

 a fish in less than a minute. 



Knowing the nature of the spot, and that it was fre- 

 quented only periodically by small shoals of bass, which 

 never remained there for any length of time, I hurriedly 

 baited my hook again and landed a second fish, and soon 

 afterwards a third. 



My companion, who was having some difficulty in fitting 



