The Wbite Sea- bass 21 



But I was in luck, and this catch has lived with 

 me ever since. Possibly the bass has grown a 

 little every year, gained a pound or so in the tell- 

 ing, but it would have done the same had it lived, 

 and far be it from me to deprive so noble and 

 generous a creature of any prerogative ; living or 

 dead, it shall grow, at least so long as my gaffer 

 lives. 



We have left the fish rushing madly. I had 

 caught many bass, but never in shoal water. 

 They are taken almost invariably in the deep 

 blue water along the rocks, and will often, like 

 a salmon, or almost any fish, plunge down and 

 sulk ; but this fellow could not sulk, hence was 

 away, and when I checked it, it dashed around, 

 circling the boat so rapidly in a series of rushes 

 that only by heroic measures was it saved. 

 Twice or more the dash was so impetuous that 

 the rod was quickly passed under the oars of the 

 boatman to save it, he sending the flat-bottom 

 boat around on a pivot in a desperate attempt to 

 keep me facing the fish. Fifteen or more min- 

 utes slipped away, the bass making inshore 

 rushes to secure line, with which to reach the 

 deep channel. But the boatman hugged the 

 shore, and by sheer luck I kept the plunger in 



