A merican Game-Fishes 



but the secret of its agility must be hid- 

 den within its brain. In mild climates it 

 spawns rather early in the season, and is 

 looking for food at the time when the 

 " average citizen " is taking his holiday. 

 These qualities are enough to secure pop- 

 ularity. 



The two species of black bass have had 

 many scientific names, and a good score at 

 least of popular ones, the most generally 

 used being " small-mouthed bass" for Mi- 

 cropterus dolomei, and " large-mouthed bass," 

 or " Oswego bass," for M. salmoides. The 

 former is generally considered by anglers 

 to be much the better fighter. Dr. Hen- 

 shall, who speaks with authority founded 

 on special study and large experience, 

 claims that, weight, water, and surround- 

 ings being the same, the fish are equal in 

 strength and method of resistance. We 

 may leave this point open, and say simply 

 that the black bass is a very game fish in- 

 deed. He fights very hard and fights long. 

 He tries various tactics, leaping high and 

 frequently shaking his head in the air, as 

 if to dislodge the hook, suddenly boring 

 down, darting from side to side, "jigging," 

 and taking advantage of any rock or sunken 

 log about which he may tangle and break 

 the line. His vitality is such that he sur- 



244 



