The Fishes of our Boyhood 109 



or more of the baits failed, the conclusion was that 

 the bass, if there, was not in a biting humor. Then 

 a rock-bass was voted good enough, and the bait 

 was sent down as close as possible to the submerged 

 trunk and into all likely-looking holes. The rock- 

 bass, all honor to him, seldom failed to be there and 

 ready for business. So one promising place after 

 another would be tried, the sport ending perhaps 

 miles from the starting-point. 



The rock-bass, for his size, was a good fighter, 

 and better when properly cooked. He, also called 

 " red-eye " and " goggle-eye," frequently showed as 

 black as one's boot, always blacker than the true 

 black bass, which really is of an olive-green above 

 and lighter below. The boys called the rock-bass 

 the black bass, while large and small mouth black 

 bass were termed "green bass." Now and then 

 great catches of white bass were made. I once 

 took, where a creek discolored by rain joined the 

 river's clear flood, more than one hundred white 

 bass within one and one-quarter hours. I fished 

 standing in a shooting-skiff, dropping the fish be- 

 hind me as fast as they could be removed from the 

 artificial lure. The rod was short and stiff, and 

 there was little or no playing. Many more fish 

 might have been taken, but the skiff began to leak, 

 and I got ashore with wet feet. Presumably the 

 muddy water of the creek brought down so much 

 food that all the fish in the neighborhood were 

 attracted to the common spot. They took the bait 

 before it was two yards below the surface, and just 

 as it passed the line between muddy and clear water. 



Another good fish for sport, while fair for the 



