EXCELLENCE OF BLACK BASS. 181 



possible harm, and would probably be a benefit to 

 anglers ; " he said also, " it is well suited for large 

 ponds and small lakes, where there is an abundant 

 supply of coarse fish, which a school of black 

 bass would soon convert into fish flesh by no 

 means coarse." The late Marquis of Exeter 

 when writing to Frank Buckland in 1874, said, 

 " I could have some black bass sent over, but am 

 afraid of them, as Mr. Roosvelt says that the 

 black bass (Grystes nigricans] is ' a fighting 

 American, and will swallow every British fish in 

 your lakes. It is our champion fish, and it can 

 whip all creation of the fish race.' After this de- 

 scription I think that you will advise me to have 

 nothing to do with such a devil, if I want to get 

 up a stock of trout in my ponds." Since 1879 Mr. 

 Silk made several successful excursions to America, 

 bringing back with him for the Marquis and his 

 friends, considerable numbers of the small and large- 

 mouthed black bass ; and the several importations 

 were distributed amongst various lakes and ponds 

 in England, including Sandringham, Rushden, 

 White Water, the rivers Welland and Nene ; and in 

 Scotland the Duke of Argyll turned a considerable 

 quantity into one of his lakes in Mull. 



The black bass spawns in May or June ; is a 

 very game fish, and its recommendation to anglers 

 will be the fact that it rises freely to the fly, and 

 will take minnows, worms and baits of almost 

 every kind, and, when hooked, gives grand sport, 

 " fighting to the last." Black bass attain the weight 

 of 10 or 12 Ibs. where water and food are suitable, 

 and conducive to large growth ; they are excellent 

 food for the table, having white, firm flesh, with 

 curd between the flakes, and taste more like whiting 



