CHAPTER VIII. 

 Growth. 



THE small-mouthed bass develops with extraordinary 

 rapidity, and, although only a fraction of an inch 

 when hatched out in June, it will attain, under fav- 

 ourable circumstances, a length of four inches by the end 

 of the summer season, which rarely lasts longer than three 

 months. 



During the second year of its existence it will grow still 

 more rapidly; and by the end of September will probably 

 be eight inches in length and weigh half a pound. In its 

 third season it gradually approaches the lower limit of the 

 angler, ten to twelve inches in length, and weighs from 

 twelve ounces to one pound. 



In its fourth season, that is, when it is three years old, 

 it is ready for propagation. 



How rapidly it grows after that, and how it develops 

 from year to year, is a matter only for conjecture. Some 

 claim that fish develop indefinitely, although very slowly, 

 after they have reached a certain age; and, that unless killed 

 by starvation, accident or disease, they may live on for ever. 



Whether or not there is a limit to their age, as appears 

 to be true in the case of man and animals, involves the whole 

 question of longevity, which hardly admits of discussion here. 



How large the small-mouth bass grows is not definitely 

 known; we can only take authentic accounts of large fish 

 that have been caught and weighed, and allow these to 

 stand as records. 



A bass, however, of two or three pounds, when in good 

 fighting condition, is a fine fish, and not to be despised, even 

 by the veteran. 



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