66 BRITISH FRESH-WATER FISHES 



It would not repay anybody's trouble to go fly-fishing for 



perch, seeing that the fish swim so deep as a rule. The best 



_ . . chance is in hot weather, when perch sometimes resort 



bpinning _ ^ 



and fly- to the shallows. A red spinner or small Alexandra 

 ing. will then allure them readily enough ; and it is a 

 pretty thing to see two or three striped fellows racing after 

 the fly. But they do not make a dash and quick turn at it, 

 after the manner of the trout ; and, on the whole, the perch 

 may be pronounced distinctly the prize of the bottom-fisher. 



The Bass, or Sea-Perch {Labrax lupus) 



Teeth. 

 All villiform, without 

 canines; on the pa- 

 latal bones, vomer, 



and tongue. 



Fin Formula. 

 First Dorsal : 8 or 9 spines. 

 Second Dorsal : 2 or 3 spines, 9 to 1 1 rays. 

 Pectoral : 16 rays. 

 Ventral : i spine, 5 rays. 

 Anal : 2 spines, 9 or 10 rays. 

 Caudal : 17 rays. 



Of the bass I cannot speak from personal observation, 

 having never had opportunity either of watching it in its 

 The Bass, or native haunts or of angling for it. Indeed, I feel 

 {Lahrax some doubt as to the propriety of including it 

 lupus). among fresh-water fishes, seeing that it is essentially 

 a marine species, and although it frequently enters rivers, I 

 am informed that it is seldom found above the tidal waters. 

 Nevertheless, high spring tides carry this fish at times far into 

 the domain of the landsman angler, affording sport under 

 such conditions in the Arun, for instance, a clear mile above 

 Arundel. Ancient and modern writers agree in recommending 

 that bass should be kept in fresh-water ponds to be fattened 

 on a liberal diet for a month or six weeks before it is killed 

 for the kitchen. Yarrell speaks of one Mr. Arnold who used 

 to keep these fish in a lake in Guernsey. 



The name " bass " seems to be but a variant of " barse," 



