HABITS 



13 



and both began to play their fish; and then, as usually 

 happens, a large bass rushed to the surface of the water and 

 jumped, shewing two lines attached to its mouth. 



After a most exciting struggle, in which they seemed 

 alternately to lose and regain their fish, they finally landed 

 the bass in an inextricable tangle of gut, line and sinkers. 



On inspection, they came to the conclusion that the bass 

 had entered the channel seeking food; he had seen the first 

 bait and had swallowed it, apparently with the greatest 

 relish; then, swimming a little further, he had taken the 

 other bait, the strong current preventing his action being 

 felt until he began to swim away with the second bait. 



The question then arose as to the ownership of the fish, 

 which still remains undecided. 



Judging from such experiences as the foregoing, one 

 must come to the conclusion that bass are not, to say the 

 least, seriously inconvenienced by being hooked in any part 

 of the mouth or gullet ; the only vital spot being the gills, 

 which are so sensitive that, if touched with the point of the 

 hook, they seem to lose some portion of their physiological 

 utility, and the fish soon dies. 



A Critical Moment 



