242 PERCID/E. 



THE STIIIPED SEA BASS. 



RocJc Fish, Bar Fish — Richardson. Lahrax Lineatus — Cdvier. 



This noble fish^ which^ after the Salmon family, is unques- 

 tionably the most sporting fish of this continent, has its 

 geographical range from the Capes of the Delaware, in which 

 river it is known as the Rock Fish, to the coasts of Massa- 

 chusetts ; unless, as I think almost certain, the Bar-Fish of 

 Richardson, which is taken in the St. Lawrence, proved to be 

 merely an accidental variety. 



The Striped Bass is properly a sea fish, entering the rivers in 

 the spring to spawn, at which time he runs as high up the 

 courses as the depth of water will permit, and lies among the 

 bushes where the channels are narrow. They run far up the 

 Hudson — are taken at the foot of the Cohoes Falls of the 

 Mohawk in great numbers, and ascend yet higher up the cold, 

 clear waters of the Delaware. 



In September and October they run along the coast in large 

 schuUs, entering the inlets, and being taken in great numbers 

 between the outer bars and the beach by the sean. In the 

 heaviest surfs of the Atlantic, on the outer ocean beaches, they 

 are captured of great size with a bone or metal squid. They 

 are a bold, ravenous, and powerful fish, biting voraciously at 

 almost every sort of bait, from soft crabs and clams, on a drop- 

 line, to shiners or sparlings on trolHng tackle. Shad-roe in 

 rivers frequented by that fish in the spring of the year, and 

 even the artificial fly of large size and gaudy colours, with 



