BY SOME CALLED STRAWBERRY. 285. 



THE SPOTTED BASS OR SPECKLED HEX. 



This is a common fish in the fresh waters of the Western 

 States ; it is also taken in the waters of the western part of 

 the Dominion of Canada, where it is known as the speckled 

 hen. This is one 'of the numerous small pan-fishes, of the 

 Western waters which naturalists have not yet classified. It 

 ranges in weight from a quarter of a pound to two pounds, is 

 blackish-green on the back, greenish-yellow on the sides, with 

 a white belly, and dotted in black similar to some of the dace 

 genus of Western streams. It is an excellent breakfast-fish, 

 either rolled in flour and fried in butter, or in sparkling hot 

 fat of salt pork. Sweet or olive oil is the best juice for fry- 

 ing fish in, but seldom used in America for the purpose ex- 

 cept by Israelites. 



THE SPOTTED BASS OR SPECKLED HEN. 

 EOCK BASS OF THE LAKES. 



This is rather better game than the " speckled hen," bites 

 freely at a feathered squid troll, or to any shiny revolving- 

 spoon bait ; it also bites at the apple-worm, white grub, grass- 

 hopper, or shiner. This may also be said of the speckled hen. 

 The Buel feathered spoon of smallest size and brightest feath- 

 ers is a captivating lure for both the spotted bass and the 

 rock bass. This fish inhabits all the lakes in the centre of 

 the state, and is regarded as an excellent pan-fish. It is green 

 on the back, orange at the sides, and cream-color on the abdo- 

 men ; the mottled spots are black and green. This is emi- 



