Fisher aft 57 



this fish boldness in biting, fierce 

 resistance in fighting to the last gap 

 there can be no doubt, and that it is 

 a good food fish is also true, and com- 

 bination of these qualities surely en- 

 titles the black bass to a most favora- 

 ble, though not necessarily a premier, 

 position among the game fishes of 

 America. 



Classified as one of the favorite 

 fresh water fishes, the black bass 

 ranks on a par with the justly prized 

 striped bass or rock-fish as to game- 

 ness, but does not reach the size of 

 the latter a game fish of the first 

 water, whether it be the sea or river, 

 for the latter is often taken in the 

 ocean as well as in tide-water streams. 



Of the two species of black bass, 

 possibly the small-mouth may be con- 

 sidered preferable, being more active 

 than the large-mouth of extreme size 

 which it attains in southern waters, 

 but in the cold lakes and rivers where 

 both are found, probably little, if any 

 difference can be determined on the 

 score of game qualities. The dis- 

 tinguishing features of the small- 



