BLACK BASS. 99 



yet on the Niagara River, near the village of Chippe- 

 wa, I captured a splendid fellow, quite eight pounds ; 

 but I was then assured that I had reason to cpn- 

 gratulate myself, for fish of such a size were far from 

 common. The color, as in all varieties of fish, varies 

 much. In clear running water they are generally a 

 very dark green upon the back (much such a shade 

 as the darker hues in mackerel), gradually getting 

 lighter, almost to white, as you approach the abdo- 

 men; but in those Southern waters, which are 

 strongly impregnated with alluvial deposit, and con- 

 sequently turbid, the back of these bass is less 

 brilliant in shade, while the stomach is not so clear a 

 white. A still further advantage that may recom- 

 mend them is, that they are in season when trout 

 should not be killed. In spring they spawn, the 

 exact time varying in different waters on account of 

 season and position as to latitude. 



If I may judge from the quantity of spawn the 

 female contains, they must be immensely prolific; 

 for although the individual ovum is small, the roe is 

 very large in proportion to the bulk of the fish. 

 From my own observation and inquiries, I believe 

 that the spawn is from sixteen to twenty days in 

 maturing, after being deposited, which would give 



