CHAPTER XV. 

 OP THE BLACK, OR OSWEGO BASSE. 



THIS is the favorite game fish of the northern and western 

 parts of our country, and is found in abundance in most of 

 the northern lakes and western rivers. To our piscatorial 

 friends in New-York, Ohio, Michigan and Kentucky, they 

 afford unceasing delight, and no fish receives more enco- 

 miums as to the pleasure derived, either from the rod or fork. 



His usual size is about twelve to fifteen inches in length 

 by two inches in thickness and five inches broad. The color 

 is deep black along the back and sides, growing lighter to- 

 wards the belly, and becoming yellowish, in the female. It 

 has a thick oval head ; large mouth, with rows of small teeth ; 

 a wide dorsal fin near the centre of the body ; another to- 

 wards the tail, with corresponding pectoral and anal fins. 

 The body is quite thick near the head, and tapers regularly, 

 terminating in a swallow tail. It feeds principally on small 

 fish, which betray its proximity by rising to the surface to 

 elude pursuit. It is best taken with minnows and other 

 kinds of small fish, but bites freely at lobsters and muscles. 



The Buffalo correspondent appears to think that the black 



