366 



PRAIRIE AND FOREST. 



there known by the name of water-dog. It frequently takes 

 the fisherman's bait, who prefers to cut his line and lose 

 the hook, to becoming on any more intimate terms. 



THE COMMON BASS never exceeds a pound in weight, but 

 more generally is captured half these dimensions. In some 

 streams such as the Niagara, Iroquois, Kankakee, and 

 White rivers it positively swarms in such abundance as 

 to become a trouble to the fisherman who desires catching 

 heavier fish. In shape and build they much resemble a 

 well-fed English perch ; but instead of possessing the same 

 coloring, they are of a dark copper shade along the back, 

 which gradually becomes lighter as you approach the stom- 

 ach. However much it may be despised by the ambi- 

 tious sportsman, still it is far from an unworthy fish ; for 

 it is a greedy feeder, exceedingly strong on the hook, and 

 last, but not least, excellent when cooked. 



In American waters there are several other species of this 

 genus, no less curious in appearance than their names gog- 

 gle-eyes, new lights, etc., etc., etc. which, although not in- 

 different as food, still are unworthy of particular attention 

 by the fisherman, as their size is too inconsiderable to make 

 them worthy antagonists. 



