866 PKAIR1E AND FOKEST. 



back water in the tributary invariably swarmed with 

 black bass, pike, and cat-fish, as long as the water is 

 on the increase, and so ravenous would these different 

 species be, that as quick as you could supply your 

 hook with bait, so rapidly would the fisherman catch 

 them ; but the instant the volume of water commenced 

 to abate all would cease to feed, and the disciple of 

 Izaak Walton would go unrewarded. All the tributary 

 streams of the Ohio and Upper Mississippi are well 

 stocked with black bass, but there are few places where 

 I have enjoyed better sport than at Mount Carmel, on 

 the Wabash, where they abounded in such quantities 

 as to astonish those who had never previously visited 

 this pretty, retired village. I believe I was the first to 

 use the fly for the capture of black bass upon these 

 waters, but so successful was I, that in a marvellously 

 short space of time both inhabitants and visitors 

 adopted my method; but there was no use in being 

 jealous, for there was enough sport and to spare for 

 all. Another admirable bait for this gamest of fresh- 

 water fish is the crawfish immediately after it has cast 

 its shell ; and, as it is clean and easily handled, it is 

 much sought after, but unfortunately is very difficult 

 to procure, for at the period that it is in its most prime 

 condition it is generally buried several inches beneath 

 the mud. Americans have reason to be proud of the 

 black bass, for its game qualities endear it to the fisher- 

 man, and its nutty sweet flavour to the gourmand. 



The black bass is an extremely free feeder, and is 

 caught in all the various ways used to capture trout. 

 He rises freely at the fly ; with minnow or worm, 

 crawfish, spoon bait, or almost any artificial device, 

 he can be taken. On being hooked, generally the first 



