BLACK BASS. 221 



round him, and by their numbers attract the bass, who 

 dashete in among them, and while the rest make off, 

 swallows the one with the worm, and of course himself 

 falls a prey to the ingenious young fisherman. This 

 like the use of cray-fish, mice, swallows, and many othei 

 baits, may be excellent, but I have never tried it or 

 them ; so long as the fish will take a fly, I fish with 

 nothing else ; it is infinitely more exciting to kill one fish 

 on the fly than ten with bait. 



Black bass are taken among the Thousand Isles in 

 immense numbers, but not of any great size, rarely 

 exceeding three pounds. In Lake Champlain, near 

 Rouse's Point, and in the lakes of Canada, they grow 

 larger. The largest, probably, never exceeding eight 

 pounds. They are taken in most of the waters of the 

 northern and northwestern States, especially in the 

 Niagara and Detroit rivers, Lake St. Clair, Lake Erie 

 and Lake Huron. They make their appearance from 

 deep water in May and June, grow to great excellence 

 in July and August, but are in their best condition in 

 September and October. They are a fine, noble game 

 fish, and where trout are not to be had are well worthy 

 of the sportsman's attention ; when captured, which can 

 only be done by skill and care, they prove an excellent 

 addition to the table. 



The fish usually known as trout at the South, albeit 

 that name is applied to many varieties, is a species of 

 black bass, and is taken by trolling with a red and short 

 line before the boat as it is rowed along. 



