52 THE BRITISH ANGLER'S LEXICON. 



sport of any kind to the angler. Therefore, into these 

 waters this fish might be introduced with great advantage. 

 They are about to be introduced into New Zealand, and the 

 following extract from Mr. R. A. A. Sherrin's " Handbook of 

 the Rivers of New Zealand" speaks for itself: "The fish 

 that would appear desirable to introduce into New Zealand 

 is the black bass of America, although the cultivators of 

 salmon give it an evil reputation, Professor Goode going as 

 far as to say that the fish with which public fish cultivators 

 should deal, the black bass had no claim whatever, unless 

 he was put into the same stream with the pike, and let them 

 fight it out together. But at the same conference, the 

 chairman (the Marquis of Exeter) put in the plea that the 

 black bass would, in certain waters, be a useful addition- 

 he would rise to a fly ; he would take any kind of bait ; he 

 would live with the pike ; and he was exceedingly good 

 eating. He thought the flesh was decidedly more like fresh 

 whiting than any other fish." A writer in the " Fisheries 

 Literature" says: u The black bass is a fish esteemed by 

 North American anglers even above the trout. It is a fish 

 of prey, like the perch, and should, of course, not be placed 

 in trout or grayling streams ; indeed, it thrives best in 

 ponds and lakes. In sport and food qualities it is 

 undoubtedly superior to any English coarse fish. The 

 successful importations of it made by the Marquis of Exeter 

 and some other gentlemen, prove conclusively that it will 

 do well in this country (i.e., England) ; indeed, it is 

 doubtful if there exists a more hardy fish, or one which can 

 be more easily cultivated. This will be made evident by a 

 short description of the wonderful manner in which the 

 black bass provides for the safety of its young in striking 

 contrast to the habits of nearly all other fish. The black 





