CHAPTER XIII. 



Fishing For Black Bass. 



LACK bass belong to the sunfish family. 

 There are two species, and they are known 

 respectively as the small mouthed black bass, 

 and the large mouthed black bass. The 

 former is the smaller, and is found in the more 

 northern waters, preferring the cool water of 

 rapid streams and rock bottomed lakes. The large mouth 

 is found in the southern and central sections of the United 

 States, principally, and prefers quiet water, with grassy 

 shores and" muddy bottom. Throughout the central, northern 

 and eastern parts of the country both kinds are found, the 

 small mouth being most abundant in the rapid streams and 

 the large mouths being found most plentifully in quiet 

 streams and ponds. One kind or other is found from well 

 up into eastern Canada to the Mexican border, and from the 

 Rocky Mountains to the Atlantic Coast. 



When you know what to look for the two species are 

 easily distinguished one from the other. There is a differ- 

 ence in the general build, the large mouth being a heavier 

 and chubbier fish for his length than the small mouth, and 

 less graceful in appearance. The mouth of the large mouth 

 variety extends a little beyond the vertical line of the eye, 

 while that of the small mouthed species does not extend to 

 the eye line. The eyes differ in color sometimes and those 

 of the small mouth show considerable red while those of 

 the other species do not, but this, like the general color- 

 ing is not infallible. The shape of the head differs in all 

 cases, as the small mouthed species has a round forehead 



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