382 Black Bass Fishing. 



nomers of quail, partridge, pheasant, and rabbit have been applied, 

 there being no true species of any of these indigenous to America." 



"Then, I should say the names are a virtual acknowledgment 

 that they considered the black bass the peer of either the trout or 

 salmon as a game fish," said Ignatius. 



"As an old salmon and trout fisher," replied the Professor, "I 

 consider the black bass, all things being equal, the gamiest fish that 

 swims. Of course, I mean as compared to fish of equal weight, and 

 when fished for with the same tackle, for it would be folly to compare 

 a three-pound bass to a twenty-pound salmon." 



"The long list of local names applied to the black bass," resumed 

 the Professor, " is owing chiefly to its remarkably wide geographical 

 range ; for while it is peculiarly an American fish, the original 

 habitat of one or other of its forms embraces the hydrographic basins 

 of the great lakes, the St. Lawrence, Mississippi, and Rio Grande 

 rivers, and the entire water-shed of the South Atlantic States from 

 Virginia to Florida ; or, in other words, portions of Canada and 

 Mexico, and the whole United States east of the Rocky Mountains, 

 except New England and the sea-board of the Middle States. Of 

 late years, it has been introduced into these latter States, into the 

 Pacific slope, England, and Germany." 



Reaching the summit of a hill after a long but gentle ascent, the 

 river was disclosed to the view of the expectant anglers. At the foot 

 of the descent was an old covered bridge which spanned a somewhat 

 narrow but beautiful stream, winding in graceful curves among green 

 hills and broad meadows. The ripples, or "riffles," sparkled and 

 flashed as they reflected the rays of the bright morning sun, while 

 the blue and white and gray of the sky and clouds were revealed in 

 the still reaches and quiet pools as in a mirror. Driving through the 

 time-worn and old-fashioned bridge with its quaint echoes, our 

 friends left the turnpike and proceeded down a narrow road, follow- 

 ing the course of the river to a small grove of gigantic elms, beeches, 

 and sycamores, where a merry little creek mingled its limpid waters 

 with the larger, but more pellucid, stream. 



While Luke unharnessed the horses and haltered them to the 

 low limb of a beech, the Professor and Ignatius went up the creek, 

 with the minnow-seine and bucket, and soon secured a supply of 

 chubs and shiners for bait. The Professor then took from its case 



