TE BASSE. 167 



* 



however live in water that is entirely fresh, and I knew an instance 

 where a shoal being detained in a canal near Southampton, that 

 communicated with the sea, which communication was afterwards 

 cut off by the canal ceasing to work and an embankment thrown 

 across its entrance which effectually excluded the salt water, and 

 yet the basse continued apparently healthy, as did also some grey 

 mullet that were also detained captive there : but I do not think 

 that either species bred in these strange waters, so that what with 

 fair fishing and what with foul ; lines, and nets ; the whole race 

 became nearly extinct in the course of a couple of summers. Mr. 

 Yarrell also informs us that basse and mullet have been retained 

 with success in Mr. Arnould's fresh water lake in Guernsey, and 

 Dr. M'Cullock has "vouched for the superiority of the flavour 

 obtained by the change. 



The basse was known to the Romans who called it the wolf 

 from its extensive voracity, though at the same time it was es- 

 teemed among them as an article of delicacy. I have not how- 

 ever found the basse an extremely voracious fish, being more parti- 

 cular in his food than the generality of salt water fishes, the larger 

 ones seldom taking a bait freely unless when alive or in motion. 



All through the summer months, and until late in the autumn, 

 basse of all sorts and sizes ascend rivers and creeks communica- 

 tingjwith the sea, advancing with the flood and returning again with 

 the ebb. In the latter places I have often met with excellent 

 sport, by beginning at the lower end, and following up the course 

 of the tide, using a rag worm for a bait, which should be kept just 

 clear" of the ground. A long stout rod, a strong line, with a foot- 

 line of the strongest salmon gut should be used ; a float propor- 

 tioned to the current ; and two hooks may be used one about two 

 feet above the other, if the water is deep, and about half that dis- 

 tance if shallow. In this manner I have taken several dozen basse 

 averaging from one ounce to a couple of pounds in the course of 

 two or three hours, getting bites in fact as fast as I could cast my 

 lines into the water. Sometimes indeed I got hold of the some 

 of the larger basse by this mode of fishing, but generally 

 speaking after they attain two pounds weight they prey almost 

 solely on small fishes. 



The way in which I have caught t the largest basse has been by 

 laying a bolter at the extreme low water mark, on an open sandy 

 beach whilst a violent surf _ was raging on the shore. The line was 



