ROCK BASS. 223 



captured even with the fly, but not readily. In the St. 

 Lawrence River it feeds mostly on the eel-fly, so long as 

 that lasts, choosing, I believe, the dead ones ; and in 

 July I have found them filled with that fly. They never 

 attain the size of the larger black bass, although they 

 are taken of over three pounds, but are a brave, vora- 

 cious fish, and excellent at table.* 



* It is now generally accepted as the scientific conclusion that the Oswego bass, 

 the Southern black-bassthere called the chub and the big-mouthed bass, aro 

 one and the same. I know, however, that the Southern Wack-bass, the Grystes 

 salmoides, is a much finer fish on the hook and on the table than his supposed 

 compeer, the Oswego bass, and takes the fly as freely and fiercely as the trno 

 black-bass. The latter is now generally called the Small-mouthed bass, that being 

 his distinguishing peculiarity. 



