BIOLOGICAL 115 



small mouthed bass is the gamer fish. Authorities say 

 not but in the light of my own experience I agree 

 with the lay majority and cast my vote in favor of 

 dolomieu. Dr. Henshall and others tell us that when 

 taken from the same waters there is little difference 

 in their fighting abilities, the natural speed of the 

 small mouthed being off-set by the greater weight and 

 strength of salmoides. My experience is that these 

 fish are seldom taken in the same waters. They are 

 often found in the same lake or river but it is usually 

 possible for the fish to gratify their individual prefer- 

 ences and the large mouthed bass is usually found in 

 the weeds; the small mouthed on the bars or ledges 

 or where there are currents. When the two fishes 

 actually are taken from the same water there is little 

 difference in their fighting and no one can tell which 

 fish he has hooked. 



I have taken large mouthed bass in weedy, shallow 

 waters when the fight was decidedly disappointing but 

 under favorabk circumstances the large mouthed bass 

 is a game fish of the first class. He also has the repu- 

 tation of rising more willingly to the fly, which is 

 much in his favor. 



I would rather catch small mouthed bass but I con- 

 sider the large mouthed the more valuable fish because 

 of his greater adaptability. 



EDIBILITY 



When taken from cold clear water the large mouthed 

 black bass is a fine food fish. When from weedy 



