The Channel-bass 193 



fish. The gamy creature would have joined 

 forces with the current and towed us out to sea 

 but for the strenuous efforts of the boatman ; and 

 so, ever fighting, making a brave show of resist- 

 ance, the fish came in, cutting the water with 

 splendid side rushes, growing shorter and shorter 

 until I had it on the quarter, its burnished sides 

 flashing in the sunlight, and as it turned and lay 

 upon the surface, I saw why some call it the red- 

 drum, as a red golden iridescence caught my eye 

 as though for a second the fish had blushed. I 

 passed it forward to the mercies of the gaffer, who, 

 with a clean-cut lift landed and held it up for my 

 inspection. It was a most attractive fish, weighing 

 between thirty and thirty-five pounds, which had 

 engaged our attention a minute per pound, 

 according to the boatman. 



The channel-bass bears a strong resemblance 

 to the California roncador. The body is long 

 and well proportioned ; the back perfectly arched 

 from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail ; 

 the nose blunt, mouth opening parallel to the 

 ventral line or bottom of the fish. The head is 

 long ; eye small ; dorsal fins low, the second dor- 

 sal being long and beautiful. The tail explains 

 the gamy nature of the bass, being a large and 



