37^ GAME FISH OF NORTH AMERICA. 



the legs. IViitgs. — Under coverts, a portion each of bright yellow and blue 

 feathers ; over coverts the yellowish grey mottled feather from the jungle cock 

 particularly, or a similar feather taken from the wild or tame turkey. 



One native method of fishing at the south is with a bob, which 

 is a bunch of gay colored feathers, with two or three large hooks 

 concealed in it. This is fastened to a yard or two of strong line, 

 and this to a stout reed pole. The fisherman sits in the bow of a 

 canoe, which is paddled by one in the stern, and kept at such a 

 distance from the weedy shore that the bob may be skittered 

 along the margin. Out rushes the bass, and cannot well escape 

 being hooked ; he is either hauled in by main force, or breaks 

 away. 



The trolling spoon is also very successfully used as at the north. 

 Indeed the methods of taking the bass are as numerous as many 

 of them are unscientific. Angling has never been a southern pas- 

 time, the gentlemen preferring the more manly practices of the 

 chase, leaving mere fishing to the negroes and lazy whites. Within 

 five years, however, very considerable interest has been manifested 

 in angling in its higher branches, and choice tackle is now in con- 

 stant request from the Potomac to the Rio Grande. In Texas, 

 where there are many clear .streams, considerable fly fishing for 

 bass is done ; while in Florida, whose winter visitors are chiefly 

 northern people, angling in all its parts and details may be said to 

 have attained a standard of excellence not found elsewhere in 

 North America, taking into consideration the great variety of salt 

 and fresh water fish in request, and the vast scope offered for 

 study and practice. 



Many writers have maintained that black bass will in time de- 

 stroy all other fishes which may be found in the waters into which 

 they are introduced. We have never supported this theory. 

 Careful obser\'ation disproves the charge. Pro'". M. G. Ellzey, 

 one of the Fish Commissioners of Virginia, says : 



" I have repeatedly fished in the upper waters of the Roanoke 

 for two years past, where bass have been plenty for many years, 

 and find the usual varieties of catfish, suckers, sunfish, chubs, 

 minnows, etc., existing in great abundance in the same pools in 

 which I have been in the habit of catching the bass. I have re- 

 cently observed the same thing with regard to Goose Creek, a 



