The Black Sea-bass 107 



the stems of the kelp, the water being so clear 

 that every object could be seen. As I looked, 

 into the range of vision, through a curtain of 

 kelp which it seemed to push aside like a portiere, 

 came a mighty fish which I recognized as a black 

 sea-bass. It was at least six feet in length, 

 weighing possibly three hundred pounds, and 

 simulated the color of the weed. At its ap- 

 proach the small fry and numerous sheepshead 

 disappeared before the king. Its movements 

 were slow and dignified, as became its size, and 

 guided either by scent or sight it swam toward 

 my small sardine bait prepared for yellowtail, 

 gazed at it warily and passed on to return and 

 view it from another position. A score of times 

 this gigantic fish, which I had previously imag- 

 ined a glutton that rushed at food and bolted it, 

 played about the bait with tactful movements, 

 the personification of caution and deliberation ; 

 then, as though satisfied, it poised directly over 

 it, depressed its muzzle until it stood upon its 

 head, tail upward, then took the bait and slowly 

 moved off. When it felt the wire leader a whirl- 

 wind seemed to have struck the kelp forest, 

 leaves and stems being tossed hither and yon 

 in a vortex as the tail of the mighty bass swept 



