LOCALITIES. 397 



Bass comparatively rare. In Lake Erie, the Black Bass greatly 

 predominates, and it may be doubted whether the Oswegonian 

 — like certain citizens of the Ontario shore — is not an inter- 

 loper in our waters, who has found his way to us from below, 

 through some canal. However this may be, he is certainly 

 right welcome ! 



" The Black Bass is our chief object of pursuit — his capture 

 is our dearest triumph — his captive form our proudest trophy. 

 When word first comes, in June, that the Black Bass bites in 

 our river, what a stir there is among our anglers ! — what 

 questioning as to the when, and the where, and by whom, and 

 with what bait, and the number and size ! — what an anxious 

 inquiry after big minnows ! — what a raking and scraping of 

 pond-holes for soft lobsters ! — what a watching of the skies ! — 

 and, if there be no wind, or a zephyr from the south or west, 

 what bright and hopeful faces ! — but if the storm rage, or an 

 easterly wind, however gentle, fan our sleeping bay, what rueful 

 countenances! — what half-suppressed repining ! — what a woeful 

 spiritless attempting to be busy about our ordinary avocations ! 

 And why this commotion ? Because this is the very prince of 

 our Game Fishes. His capture is a less easy task, and involves, 

 or is supposed to involve, more science, and to be a truer proof 

 of merit as an angler, than any other tenant of our crystal 

 waters. But — let me whisper in thy ear, my friend ! — there is 

 much of fancy in all this. He is a noble fish, and struggles 

 vigorously and most pertinaciously for liberty ; but no art nor 

 skill, unattainable by thee, or any one, is requisite to hook or 

 draw him from his element. 



"This fish beds in our streams and rivers, and probably. 



