CHAPTER XXI. 



THE STRIPED BASS is known the entire length of the 

 sea-board of the United States, and is almost as popular 

 as the salmon. The reasons for this are, he is game in the 

 highest sense of the word, lighting with the most deter- 

 mined obstinacy as long as his strength will permit; fre- 

 quents alike the ocean tideway or river, taking generally 

 with avidity the greatest varieties of natural and artificial 

 baits ; and ultimately being fit food for the most fastidious 

 epicure. By naturalists he is placed among the perch, and 

 has been named Perka labrax, an indignity which he is in 

 no way deserving, for he is built on the beautiful lines of 

 the salmon, possibly with a little more depth and beam, and 

 his coloring has a near approach to that of the lordly Salmo 

 salar, save that horizontally along his sides are placed sev- 

 eral lines (generally seven) from the gills to the tail, and 

 from which he doubtlessly derives his familiar name. Early 

 in April, if the weather be favorable, these fish make their 

 appearance in the rivers en route to their spawning beds 

 (from this date they become the object of attention to the 

 pot-hunter ; for I can not call the man w r ho tries to capture 

 fish in that state by the name of fisherman) where they 

 remain for some time, probably over a couple of months. 

 This duty performed, they return again to the coast, afford- 

 ing sport for a short period, then disappear, to return in 

 September and October in immense numbers, gladdening 

 with their advent the heart of every sportsman. 



Their size is so varied that they may be taken from the 

 weight of a few ounces up to sixty and even more pounds, 



