BASS-FISHING IN SUNGAHNEETUK 113 



this last help. He has exhausted his devices, and 

 now makes feeble rushes in small circles and zig- 

 zags and a final nerveless leap not hah* his length 

 out of water. He has fought valiantly for life and 

 liberty, but fortune has been against him. After a 

 few more abortive struggles, he turns up his side to 

 the sky, and is towed, almost unresistingly, along- 

 side the bank. Ruisseau lifts him out trium- 

 phantly, swearing, Catholic though he is, by a 

 Puritan saint: "Ba John Roger! Dat's de bes' 

 'snago I have ketch in my remember ! " We test his 

 weight with our eyes and forefingers, and put it at 

 four pounds. Fairbanks's and Howe's contrivances 

 might make it less by a pound or more; but they 

 are unsatisfactory scales for anglers' use. 



The hook is rebaited, and a cast made beside 

 the sunken log, and quickly answered by a petu- 

 lant little bite that robs me of a minnow. 



"A cossed leetly rock-bass," Ruisseau says, and 

 advises, "Put a wamm on de hook and ketch 'im 

 off de water." 



But the smallest minnow in the pail captures 

 him, and the miserable, bony, greedy, watery, big- 

 mouthed little thief is hauled forth without cere- 

 mony. How one can praise him for anything but 

 his moderate beauty, the only virtue he has, is a 

 wonder to me. The despised sunfish is handsomer, 

 a better table-fish, and as great a nuisance, yet no 

 one praises him. Doubtless the rock-bass has left 



