The Sunfish 



very shallow water a foot or two deep, and 

 from the boatside can easily be seen in the 

 light, sandy places. But they are only oc- 

 cupied in the early spring; in summer- 

 time it is deserted by the old as well as 

 young fish. A nice string of a dozen sunfish, 

 weighing half a pound each, makes a very 

 pleasing and agreeable dish if properly 

 fried ; they are better eating than the perch, 

 but not so sweet and flaky as the bass. 

 There is no question but that the little 

 sunny is a popular idol with all who 

 angle for him. I have seen whole families 

 together father, mother, daughter and 

 son sitting contentedly, each with more or 

 less improvised rods, passing the summer 

 days with infinite pleasure, now and then 

 a shout of glee proclaiming another prize 

 has been boated. The pleasures of the sum- 

 mer visitor on mountain lake are certainly 

 incomplete unless some member of the fam- 

 ily brings home for the table a dish of 

 sunnies to be fried. 



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