The Blackfisb 277 



rocks with a rod, off Salem, Massachusetts; and 

 all alongshore, wherever rocky bottom and fairly 

 deep water are found, and the conditions and bait 

 are right, this sport may be enjoyed. 



While the pollack does not come within the 

 proper scope or range of this volume, and is not 

 a large fish, I found it as gamy as a trout at Ogun- 

 quit, Maine. Casting from the rocks, I took them 

 with a green fly, as well as bait ; and several tips 

 of my black bass split bamboo paid the penalty 

 before I gauged the power of this active fish, not 

 as well known or appreciated as it should be. 



There is another blackfish, at least so called, in 

 the waters about Martha's Vineyard, the sea-bass, 

 Centropristes striatus, an entirely different fish. 

 It belongs to the family Serranidae, in which is 

 included the splendid striped bass, which attains 

 a weight of one hundred pounds, and affords rare 

 sport off the islands of southern Massachusetts 

 and in various localities, and since its introduc- 

 tion bidding fair to become the famous game fish 

 of the San Francisco region. There are two 

 species of sea-bass, ranging from Cape Ann to 

 Texas, the northern species being found north of 

 the latitude of Hatteras. The southern species 

 is common at Cedar Keys, St. Marks, and other 



