The White Sea-bass 29 



The spawning season is in June and July, 

 the young, which are found in San Diego, New- 

 port, and San Pedro (California) waters, are 

 supposed to be different fish, and are known 

 as sea-trout. The young resemble the adults, 

 but have three or four black or dusky stripes. 

 The fins are darker than in the adult, and the 

 pectoral fin bears at its base a blotch of color 

 more or less distinct. The young, or sea-trout, 

 afford excellent sport with an eight-ounce split 

 bamboo. The angler who desires to try them 

 should engage from the bait-catchers very small 

 sardines or smelt, and use a number two Sproat 

 hook, or any hook of that size. 



The white sea-bass swim in long lines, four 

 or five in a column, move leisurely, and impress 

 one by their dignity and beauty. I confess 

 to never having caught one but I was tempted 

 to release it. They rank among the fine table 

 fishes of the Pacific coast, baked white sea-bass 

 of a large size with a dash of port being a savory 

 dish. The misnamed sea-trout are delicious. 

 They should be served whole, broiled or baked. 

 When cut into slices and disguised with some 

 individuality-killing sauce, they might be called 

 by any name and would be quite as unpalatable. 



