GAME TO THE LAST. 319 



when it has yielded its life, be a fit feast for an 

 epicure. All these requisites I can claim for black 

 bass, and, therefore, presume to advocate its claim 

 for introduction to our numerous rivers. There is 

 no portion of the world so intersected by streams 

 and lakes as the North American continent, and 

 in nearly all those, from the Atlantic seaboard to 

 the Missouri river, and from Northern Canada to the 

 tributaries of the Mississippi, the black bass is to be 

 found. It matters not whether it be stream or lake, 

 whether the water be clear or muddy, stagnant or 

 rapid ; in all it appears equally to flourish. What 

 splendid homes we could offer it here ! All our 

 ornamental waters, though generally unsuited to 

 trout, would be retreats eminently fitted to its 

 nature ; and the fisherman, instead of capturing such 

 common, pluckless fish as bream, tench, carp or even 

 perch, would have an antagonist that would test all 

 his skill, the stoutness and endurance of his tackle, 

 with that untiring, unflinching resolution and head- 

 strong energy which no other fresh-water fish of the 

 same size possesses. 



The black bass is an extremely free feeder, and is 

 caught in all the various ways used to capture trout. 

 It rises freely at the fly ; with minnow or worm, 

 crawfish, spoon-bait, or almost any artificial device, 

 it can be taken. On being hooked, generally the 

 first effort it makes for freedom is to spring from 

 the water. Look out, Mr. Angler; dip your rod in 

 courtesy to it, for if you neglect the requisite salaam, 

 your acquaintance will probably terminate. When 

 this device has failed, with a purpose and force alike 

 surprising, it makes a rush for parts unknown, and 

 not until every effort, every trick is put in practice, that 

 is known to the fish family, can you get the slightest 

 chance to use your landing net. I have frequently, after 

 a long and fierce struggle, been about to place the 

 net under it, but the movement was enough ; though 



