373 



CHAPTEK XX. 



THE STRIPED BASS is known the entire length of the sea- 

 board of the United States, and is almost as popular as the 

 salmon. The reasons for this are, he is game in the 

 highest sense of the word, fighting with the most deter- 

 mined ohstinacy as long as his strength will permit, 

 frequents alike the ocean tideway or river, taking generally 

 with avidity the greatest varieties of natural and artificial 

 baits, and ultimately being fit food for the most fastidious 

 epicure. By naturalists he is placed among the perch, 

 and has been named Perka Labraa;, an indignity which 

 he is in no way deserving, for he is built on the beautiful 

 lines of the salmon, possibly with a little more depth and 

 beam, and his colouring has a near approach to that of 

 the lordly Salmo salar, save that horizontally along his 

 sides are placed several lines (generally seven) from the 

 gills to the tail, and from which he doubtlessly derives his 

 familiar name. Early in April, if the weather be favour- 

 able, these fish make their appearance in the rivers en route 

 to their spawning-beds (from this date they become the 



