400 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 



ence now who insists that the banjo never was in tune? If 

 he interrupts I will refer him to Dr. Henshall, and if he can 

 find anything that the apostle of the Black Bass has said 

 that will sustain his position, or controvert mine, then we 

 confess judgment and invoke mercy from the court. 



There was no digression in the last paragraph, although 

 one was attempted. The fact is that some American fishes 

 have not received their proper rank as game, and the Big- 

 mouthed Black Bass was instanced as a most glaring case in 

 which a noble fish has been actually abused and reviled. In 

 the subject of my song, the White Perch, no such claim is 

 made; it has simply been neglected. I get some fair sport 

 out of it when the Trout streams are far off, railroad fares 

 high, and time, which was not made only for slaves and set- 

 ting-hens, is limited. The White Perch was one of the 

 things that I pursued in childhood, and in advancing years it 

 still finds favor. Like a poor man it fails to receive justice. 



"Here's a fish hangs in the net like a poor man's right 

 in the law; 'twill hardly come out." Pericles, Act ii., Sc. i. 



"The imperious seas breed monsters; for the dish, poor 

 tributary rivers as sweet fish." Cymbclinc, Act iv., Sc. 2. 



Often while playing my favorite part of a truant school- 

 boy a role which pleased a few chums but never met favor 

 from parental authority has a small White Perch shown its 

 silvery sides and bristling spines between the surface of the 

 water and the deck of some craft at dock on the upper Hud- 

 son. We boys fished on general principles, in those days. 

 There were no rods, lines or hooks for special fishes; we 

 went to the village grocery and bought a few knots of the 

 cheapest line, half a dozen hooks two for a cent, pounded 

 out a piece of lead for a sinker, and there we were, equipped 

 for several days fishing for ten cents! 



Floats and poles we despised, because as our oracle, John 

 Atwood, said: "They aint no use, 'cause when you got a pole 

 you just yank 'em out so quick you don't have any fun; 



