BLACK BASS. 217 



CHAPTER XXII. 



BLACK BASS. 



Gristes Nigricans (Agassiz) Centrarchus Fasciatus 

 (De Kay). 



This fish has innumerable scientific names, while it can 

 scarcely be said to have any distinctive popular one. 

 Bass, either alone or with some additional appellation, is 

 applied by common usage to almost the entire perch fam- 

 ily, one of the largest among the American fishes, while 

 scientific men are at as great a loss for appropriate nomen- 

 clature or accurate distinctions. There are probably 

 several species classed under the same name as this fish, 

 and itself differs greatly in color and appearance, accord- 

 ing to its food, water or locality. There is no doubt that 

 all fish, and more especially trout, change their hues 

 according to the color of the water they inhabit, or even 

 to the light or shade of their favorite haunts. It is sup- 

 posed that they assimilate to the bottom where they are 

 found, a provision of nature to protect them from their 

 enemies of the air. Unquestionably the same species 

 present a very different appearance in clear, limpid 

 streams, and in muddy, sluggish brooks. Black Bass are 

 said to possess of themselves the power to change their 

 color at will, and have been known to do so repeatedly 

 when confined in a vessel of water. They are found to 



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