THE STRIPED BASS 



at the fishing-stands of Martha's Vineyard and its 

 neighboring islands. 



In November the bass congregate in shoals in 

 ponds of brackish water, the back waters of tidal 

 rivers, or in the bays and bayous of rivers flowing 

 into the sea. 



On the Pacific coast the most famous haunts of 

 the fish are Lake Merritt, in Oakland, Cal., San 

 Francisco Bay, San Leandro Bay, and San An- 

 tonio Slough. The last is celebrated for its great 

 numbers of big fish. 



It has been said that the bass hibernates in winter, 

 but this remains to be established. Genio C. Scott 

 records the freezing of a great shoal of the fish in 

 ponds formed by the backwater of the Seconnet 

 River, where they were discovered by their dorsal 

 fins closely packed together in the ice. Many years 

 ago the great winter resorts of the fish were Mote- 

 tecunk, thirty miles from Long Branch, and the 

 rivers of Elk and Egg Harbor. 



Habits 



Migrations. The striped bass lives in the seas 

 or the fresh waters indifferently, and has been kept 

 successfully in artificial and natural ponds. It is 

 a lover of cold water, and will ascend streams for 

 long distances unless stopped by obstructions. It 

 is especially fond of rivers frequented by the shad, 



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