66 Bass, Pike, and Perch 



anal fins are dusky blue. The top of the head 

 and nape is dark. The coloration is very brilliant 

 and varies in different localities. Its habits of 

 feeding and spawning are similar to those of 

 the blue sunfish, though it usually inhabits smaller 

 streams ; it grows to a length of from six to eight 

 inches, and is regarded as a good pan-fish by 

 many. 



It is an eager biter at angle-worms, which is 

 the bait par excellence of juvenile anglers, who 

 greatly enjoy fishing for "sunnies." The only 

 tackle needed is a light cane rod very fine line, 

 and small hooks, Nos. 6 or 8, split-shot sinker, 

 and, of course, a float, for no boy would care 

 to fish without a " bob " or " cork." Half of the 

 pleasure of the young angler is in watching 

 the float. 



But the fly-fisher may also obtain sport to his 

 liking with a rod of a few ounces' weight and 

 midge flies on No. 10 hooks, for at the close of 

 the day the long-eared sunfish rises well. In 

 the absence of better fishing this is not to be 

 despised. 



I once saw a boy fishing for " tobacco-boxes " 

 from a rock beneath a mill-dam on a Kentucky 

 stream. He hooked one of good size, and in 



