BLACK BASS FISHING. 305 



back, and of a very dark brownish green on the sides. The younger 

 gentry, above described, are not to be despised on account of their 

 size, for when taken with a light Trout-rod, they will be found to be 

 a fine vigorous fish ; and when in their temerity they seize the large 

 fly, on feeling the hook, they will, true to their nature, make the leap, 

 in imitation of then- sires, thus showing themselves to be game fish. 

 I have known them to leap three times while reeling in the long trol- 

 ling line, whereas the larger gentry rarely leap more than once.' " 



In addition to this I will only add — for all that is said here is correct 

 and clear — that in the St. Lawrence, among the Thousand Islands, this 

 admirable fish is taken in unequalled numbers, and of unrivalled 

 excellence. That in the Black river they are likewise very abundant, 

 and rise in it very freely to any gaudy fly. A friend of my own has 

 killed many of this fine Bass with a large red hackle, with a gold tinsel 

 body, and also with a green-tailed grannam. The best fly, however, is 

 decidedly one manufactured by Conroy, after the colors of that de- 

 scribed in the above quotation, with a scarlet chenil body, under wings 

 of the red ibis, and upper wings of silver pheasant ; this will be found 

 unfailing. 



A singular fact, which obviously, though oddly enough, escaped the 

 observation of my friend at Buff"alo, is that at the first appearance of the 

 Black Bass at the mouth of the Niagara, say in the latter part of May, 

 the fish all lie around a reef on the Fort Niagara — or American — 

 side of the river, not one being ever, at that period, taken on the 

 Canadian reef opposite. After about six weeks' residence, however, 

 they change sides, and cross over, deserting the American shore alto- 

 gether, and being taken only on the Canadian side. 



The New York Shiner is there esteemed the best bait, and with it, 

 in last May, an officer and three men in H. M. service, caught in a 

 few hours enough of these fish to load two strong men to their heart's 

 content. 



The small Rock Bass of the lakes is taken off the wharfs and docks 

 on all the same waters, from Kingston to Lake Superior, with the 

 Minnow or small Shiner, though rarely with the fly. It is a good 

 fish, but rarely exceeds a pound in weight. 



From the first writer I here quote a few linos concerning the Lake 

 Sheep's-Head, Corvina Oscula^ to which I have alluded before, but 



