CHAPTER XX. 



THE STRIPED BASS is known the entire length of 

 the sea-board of the United States, and is almost as 

 popular as the salmon. The reasons for this are, he 

 is game in the highest sense of the word, fighting with 

 the most determined obstinacy as long as his strength 

 will permit, frequents alike the ocean tideway or river, 

 taking generally with avidity the greatest varieties of 

 natural and artificial baits, and ultimately being fit 

 food for the most fastidious epicure. By naturalists 

 he is placed among the perch, and has been named 

 Perka Lab rax, an indignity which he is in no way 

 deserving, for he is built on the beautiful lines of the 

 salmon, possibly with a little more depth and beam, 

 and his colouring has a near approach to that of the 

 lordly Salmo solar, save that horizontally along his 

 sides are placed several lines (generally seven) from 

 the gills to the tail, and from which he doubtlessly 

 derives his familiar name. Early in April, if the 

 weather be favourable, these fish make their appearance 

 in the rivers en route to their spawning beds (from 

 this date they become the object of attention to the pot- 

 hunter, for I cannot call the man who tries to capture 

 fish in that state by the name of fisherman,) where 

 they remain for some time, probably over a couple of 

 months. This duty performed, they return again to 

 the coast, affording sport for a short period, then dis- 



