172 



Descriptive Zoology. 



close to the bottom. In keeping with the fact that they 

 stay on the bottom is the fact that most of them lack an 

 air bladder. They feed mostly on insect larvae. 



The sunfishes are a closely related family ; these are 

 well known as having short, deep bodies, usually with 

 bright colors. More active than the sunfishes proper, 

 though in the same family, is the black bass, so well known 

 as a game fish. There are also the white bass, striped 

 bass, and yellow bass in fresh waters, and various kinds of 

 sea bass. Two important families of the spiny-rayed fishes 

 are the mackerels and the codfishes. 



FIG. 107. CODFISH. 



Most of these fishes are very active and reckoned among 

 the " game fishes " on account of their resistance to being 

 caught and the skill required to capture them. 



The Black Bass. The black bass is probably more 

 sought by the scientific angler than any other fish in the 

 Central States. It is a fine type of the spiny-rayed fishes. 



" The black bass is eminently an American fish ; he has 

 the faculty of asserting himself and making himself com- 

 pletely at home wherever placed. He is plucky, game, 

 brave, unyielding to the last when hooked. He has the 



