THE PERCH FAMILY. IQl 



board of the flat-boat which accompanied them down the 

 river, with stores, cooking utensils, and bedding. Thej fished 

 fifty or sixty miles of the river, and had a glorious time of it, 

 taking Bass weighing as high as eight pounds. 



In the states bordering on the Gulf of Mexico, this fish is 

 taken with the minnow, shrimp, and bob ; the latter is an arti- 

 ficial bait, made of gaudy feathers and tinsel (on two or three 

 hooks) ; it is as large as a humming bird. It is said that 

 the tip end of a buck's tail answers the same purpose in 

 Florida. The bob is used from a boat, with a long rod and a 

 short line ; the boat is paddled silently along, at a convenient 

 distance from the shore, while the angler is dapping his bob 

 along in likely places near the bank ; or, if he " paddles 

 his own canoe," the end of a long reed with a short line 

 projects beyond the bow of the boat, the bob just touching 

 the water. When the fish seizes it, which is always with a 

 bold rush and a spring, a short and decisive tussle ensues, in 

 which the fish is taken by the angler or the rod is carried 

 away by the fish. 



I have taken this Bass in the vicinity of St. Louis, on a 

 moonshiny night, by skittering a light spoon over the surface 

 of the water, while standing on the shore. In the South, a 

 minnow or shrimp is considered the best bait, and a float of 

 suitable size is used on such occasions. 



The anglers of New Orleans "^vho have summer residences 

 on the Gulf coast between the latter city and Mobile, formerly 

 enjoyed Bass-fishing to its full extent ; many of them were 

 ardent and skilful anglers. 



I have often thought that this fish would take a large arti- 

 ficial fly well, and give great sport, on a stout trout rod, and 

 corresponding tackle. My belief has lately been verified by 

 an account given me of an English or Scotch angler, who 

 spent last summer at the town of Rock Island, Illinois. He 



