286 FISHING IN AMEEICAN WATERS. 



ROCK BASS OF THE LAKES. 



nently a lake fish, where it is found in greatest numbers over 

 the shallows near the shores, and contiguous to the entrance 

 of spring streams. It ranges in weight from a quarter to a 

 pound. 



SECTION FOURTH. 



THE SUNFISH. 



This little fish inhabits nearly all the lakes, rivers, and 

 ponds in the United States. Its habits are very domestic, 

 seldom leaving its spawning-ground out of its sight, but seeks 

 some rock or large stone where it plays about ; and the re- 

 mainders of shoals of a single pair may be seen disporting to- 

 gether, gay and lively, while watching the bottom for such 

 ground-bait as angle-worms, and the surface for flies and 

 grasshoppers. This tiny gormandizer is a great annoyance 

 to fishers with the fly or worm when it becomes numerous in 

 a trout-pond, for it will take both the worm and the fly ; and, 

 besides, it will steal the trout-eggs from the spawning-beds. 

 But it aifords ladies and children much sport, and is, withal, 

 an excellent pan-fish ; and as it aifords good sport for school- 

 boys, it should be tolerated. It never attains to more than 

 half a pound weight ; but the buffalo, a Western fish, which 

 is similar to the spotted bass, is sometimes mistaken for this 

 fish, and in some waters ranges from half a pound to nearly 

 five pounds. The sunfish is dark greenish -brown on the 

 back, greenish-yellow on the sides, lower end of gill tipped 



