BLACK BASS. 321 



Illinois I particularly remember. It covered a space 

 of about thirty acres, with an average depth of about 

 three feet, except in the southern extremity, where 

 about eight feet of water could be found. The 

 bottom was entirely composed of mud, yet this pond 

 swarmed with black bass. Lake Champlain, the St. 

 Lawrence, and Lake Ontario (as all who have visited 

 these regions will remember) are remarkably clear, 

 with gravelly or rocky bottom, and each is a favourite 

 haunt of this fish. I mention this, to prove the better 

 how universal a favourite, and extensive its adoption 

 might become. 



A friend, once a resident of the Isle of Skye, and 

 a well-known successful trout and salmon fisher- 

 man, had a beautiful little lake, about ten acres in 

 extent, on his estate, not many miles from Toronto, 

 which he had* stocked with black bass. In a few- 

 years their numbers were so much increased that in 

 an hour or two, trolling of an evening, a dozen or 

 more could easily be taken. This lake had neither 

 outlet nor inlet, but was supplied with water from 

 springs in the bottom. 



I fear it will almost be deemed heresy to place this 

 fish on a par with the trout at least, some such idea 

 I had, when I first heard the two compared but I 

 am bold, and will go further. I consider it is the 

 superior of the two, for it is equally good as an article 

 of food, and much stronger and untiring in its efforts 

 to escape when hooked. 



By all means let us have black bass introduced. I 

 feel confident this fish requires but to be known to be 

 most highly appreciated. 



