438 



VEIiTEliUATA 



^: 





TlIK UUFFE. 



TUB EUROPEAN BASS. 



tourtfon inclics loiijj; is ostocincil for the tsible ; frequents rapids and falls near mill-dams; bites 

 stron<dv at tin- liook, especial) v at evenintj. It is very abundant in the rivers and lakes from 



the Ohio northward to the Fur Countries. 

 The Gii.w 1 'ike-Perch, L.rjrisea^ is smaller 

 * caBBBBKl \\\»-\\ the preceding; fnuiid in the same 



\\iTgCpv9si^ waters. The Canadian Sander, Z. Cano- 



dc7isis, is fourteen inches lonfj, and found 

 in the St. Lawrence. 



Genus ACERINA : Acerina. — To this 

 belongs the Ruffe, or Pope, A. vulgaris, 

 a European species, six to eight inches 

 loTig, closely resembling the perch, and 

 valued for its Hesh. 



Genus LABRAX: Lahrax. — To this 

 Iwlong the various species of Bass, some of which are among the greatest delicacies of the table. 



The Bass of Europe, L. lupus, some- 

 times called Sea-Percii, and Sea-Dace 

 in England, is one to three feet long, 

 and has been celebrated from the time 

 of Aristotle for its richness and flavor. 

 It abounds in the MediteiTanean, and 

 also on the British coasts, where it is 

 taken with trawl-nets, and also by an. 

 gling at flood-tide with a long rod and 

 stronof line. 



The species of Bass in this country are 

 numerous. The Striped Sea-Bass, L. lincafus, is from one to four feet long, brown above and 

 silvery beneath. It is taken by nets, as well as the hook and line, and atfords excellent sport. 

 Our markets are well supplied with it throughout the year. It is distributed along our coasts 

 from Delaware to Massachusetts, and bears the different names of Rock-Fish and Bar-Fish. It 

 ascends the rivers to breed in spring, and often takes refuge in them during the winter ; it 

 is, however, chiefly caught between the beach and the outer bar that runs along the shore. 

 They are bold, ravenous, and powerful fish, biting voraciously at almost every sort of bait ; 

 soft-crab, clams, and small Crustacea are, however, generally preferred. They sometimes attain 

 the weight of seventy pounds. The smaller fishes, however, are most esteemed for the table. 



There are several other American species of Bass. The Ruddy Bass, L. rufus, eight to ten 

 inches long, is common in the markets of New York. The Little White Bass, L. pallidus, 

 ot'ten called Salt- Water Perch, is five to six inches long. The Small Black Bass, L. niriricans, is 

 six to twelve inches long : and the White Lake-Bass, L, albidus, ten to eighteen inches long. 

 The latter is abundant in Lake Erie. 



The Black Huron or Black Bass, Ifuro nigricans, fifteen to twenty inches long, abounding 

 in the waters of Western New York and in the St. Lawrence, is a fine species, giving great 



sport to the angler, and valued for the 

 table. 



The Black Sea-Bass, Centropristes 

 nigj-icans, is six to ten inches long, sa- 

 vory, and delicate ; found on our coasts ; 

 abundant near Martha's Vineyard. 



The Growler, Grystts salmoides, six 



to twenty-four inches long, is excellent 



food ; found along our sea-coasts. In 



South Carolina it is called Trout. 



THE DUSKY sEREANcs. Gcuus SERR ANUS '. Scrrttnus. — 



