SPOTTED BASS AND SALMON TROUT. 31 



The Red-fish or Spotted Bass. 

 This is a Southern fish, being caught in nearly all 

 the inlets of the Atlantic below Baltimore, and in 

 those of the Northern shores of the Gulf of Mexico. 

 At these latter points he is called the red-fish, be- 

 cause, in death, he changes to variegated reddish 

 colors. His color, in life, is light silvery, and near 

 the tail is usually one dark spot, which looks unnatu- 

 ral, and as though it came there by accident. Some 

 of them have three or four of these dark spots in a 

 cluster. When taken as far North as Charleston, he 

 is called the spotted bass, a name derived from these 

 spots on the tail. In North and South Carolina, he 

 begins to bite in March, and is then fished for all 

 through the rest of the year, and sometimes in Jan- 

 uary. In the Gulf of Mexico you can get red-fish 

 the year round. He runs in shallow water, and at 

 the extreme South is taken with a small sized cod- 

 hook, and shrimp bait, or pieces of mullet will some- 

 times answer. With a rod and reel, you may follow 

 the directions given for weak-fish or striped bass, 

 using No. 00 Limerick or Kirby hooks, and twisted 

 gut leaders. 



The Mackinaw Trout, or Salmon Trout. 



This is a fish of excellent flavor, and some people 

 consider it fully equal to salmon. The flesh is red- 

 dish, and hence it is often called the salmon trout. 

 The color is dark or dusky grey, back and sides 

 sprinkled with spots somewhat lighter, belly light 



