SPAWN IN SPRING. 367 



effort he makes for freedom is to spring from the 

 water. Look out, Mr. Angler dip your rod in 

 courtesy to him, for if you neglect the requisite salaam, 

 your acquaintance will probably terminate. When 

 this device has failed, with a purpose and force alike 

 surprising, he makes a rush for parts unknown, and 

 not until every effort, every trick is put in practice 

 that is known to the fish family, can you get the 

 slightest chance to use your landing-net. I have 

 frequently, after a long and fierce struggle, been about 

 to place the net under him, but the movement was 

 enough : though apparently exhausted, the fish took a 

 new lease of life, and a further trial of patience was 

 demanded before I could call the prize mine. In shape, 

 the black bass much resembles a well-fed trout ; but 

 is deeper, and thicker made, while the tail is remark- 

 able for its breadth. Their weight varies from lib. to 

 51 b. ; yet, on the Niagara river, near the village of 

 Chippawa, I captured a splendid fellow quite 81b. ; but 

 I was then assured that I had reason to congratulate 

 myself, for fish of such a size were far from common. 

 The colour, as in all varieties of fish, varies much. 

 In clear running- water they are generally a very dark 

 green upon the back (much such a shade as the darker 

 hues in mackerel), gradually getting lighter, almost to 

 white, as you approach the abdomen ; but in those 

 southern waters, which are strongly impregnated with 

 alluvial deposit, and consequently turbid, the back of 

 these bass are less brilliant in shade, while the stomach 

 is not so clear a white. An advantage that recom- 

 mends them is, that they are in season when trout 

 should not be killed. In spring they spawn, the exact 



