BASS. 79 



is abundant in the Mediterranean, and was well 

 known to the Greeks, who named it Aa/3/oa!;, and 

 esteemed it highly. It was also well known to 

 the Romans, who called it " lupus," on account 

 of its voracity, and these terms Cuvier has united 

 for its modern distinction. This fish is found 

 along the whole line of the southern coast of Eng- 

 land, in the British and St. George's Channel, 

 and though less numerous farther north, has been 

 noticed in Berwick Bay and the Frith of Forth. 

 On the Irish coast the bass is taken along the 

 line of the eastern shore from Waterford to Bel- 

 fast Bay this fish is sometimes taken of the 

 weight of fifteen pounds, and one is said to have 

 weighed twenty-eight pounds; but the general 

 size is from twelve to eighteen inches in length, 

 and then the fish is excellent food. The bass 

 swim in shoals along the coast, depositing their 

 spawn in summer, and generally near the mouths 

 of rivers, up which they frequently pass to a con- 

 siderable distance ; they have been retained with 

 success in Mr. Arnold's freshwater lake in Guern- 

 sey, and are said to gain much in flavour by the 

 change. Their food consists generally of living 

 prey, the sand launce and small crustaceous ani- 



