THE BLACK BASS. I 5 I 



tion concerning the Black Bass in books devoted to angling. 

 Both species of Black Bass being originally absent from 

 the waters of the Atlantic Slope of the New England and 

 Middle States, and our early angling authors residing in east- 

 ern cities, they either knew very little or absolutely nothing 

 of this now well-known game-fish. 



John J. Brown ("American Angler's Guide," 1849), sa}'s 

 of the Black Bass: 



"It has a thick oval head; large mouth, with rows of small 

 teeth; a wide dorsal fin near the center of the body, another 

 toward the tail, with corresponding pectoral and anal fins. 

 The body is quite thick near the head, and tapers regularly, 

 terminating in a swallow tail." 



The italics are mine; but could any description be more 

 misleading? 



Again, being misled by the name "Trout," as applied in 

 the Southern States to the Black Bass, he classifies it under 

 the head of "Brook Trout," and innocently states: 



"They grow to a much larger size than northern Trout, 

 varying in length from six to twenty-four inches; they are of 

 a darker color, and do not possess that beauty of appearance 

 when out of the water, or that delicious flavor when upon the 

 table; neither do they contribute so much to the angler's 

 sport, as those of northern latitudes." 



However, he gives, in other portions of his book, brief 

 notes from several western and southern anglers containing 

 rather fair descriptions of the appearance and habits of both 

 species of Black Bass. 



Henry W. Herbert ("Frank Forester's Fish and Fishing," 

 1850) knew no more of the Black Bass than Mr Brown. He 

 compiled the description of the species from De Kay and 

 Agassiz, and quotes the same western correspondent of Buf- 

 falo, New York, as Mr. Brown in reference to Black Bass 

 fishing, saying, wisely: "I prefer quoting him to writing of 

 this fish myself; as, although not unacquainted with his hab- 



