BLACK BASS. 



A VERY early American naturalist, by name De 

 Kalb, christened this fish Perka Negropans, and 

 though more modern ones have given it different 

 synonyms, still I prefer the first. 



In advocating the introduction of American Sal- 

 monidce, I feel I have not yet performed my work ; 

 bear with me further, and grant me space to advocate 

 the cause of another stranger that, in my opinion, 

 deserves the favourable attention of all admirers of 

 the gentle art. Although I love the dog and gun, 

 still I am equally devoted to the rod. Every season 

 has its own beauties and peculiar fascination, and so 

 has every variety of field sports. On a glorious 

 September day, what can exceed the pleasure of 

 following a brace of well-trained, well-bred, high- 

 couraged dogs over golden stubbles ? On a mild 

 spring morning, with a soft south-west breeze and 

 dark clouds overhead, can anything be more delight- 

 ful than following the tortuous course of a trout 

 brook, taking from pool or stream the speckled 

 beauties, or knee-deep in a rapid, boisterous river, 

 first rising, now hooking, and perchance killing, the 

 glorious salmon ? The whirr of pheasant or par- 

 tridge is pleasant music ; the voice of hounds is 

 not less so ; but the screech of your reel, when first 

 you are fast in a heavy game fish, is a song that even 

 Patti herself cannot rival. For fish to be popular 

 among fishermen it must have three requisites viz., 

 gameness when hooked, boldness in feeding, and, 



