RIVER FISH AND FISHING. 371 



The two next species, the BLACK BASS of the Lakes, 

 Gristes Nigricans, and the ROCK BASS, centrarchus ceneus, 

 are originally peculiar to the basin of the St. Lawrence, 

 though they have been purposely introduced into many 

 other waters, and have introduced themselves, via the 

 canals, into the Hudson and other rivers connected with 

 those great Canadian waters. 



The black bass is taken from half a pound to eight or 

 nine pounds weight, though its ordinary run does not 

 exceed, if it reaches, three or four pounds. It has a 

 double dorsal, like the preceding species, the former with 

 nine sharp spines, the latter with one spine and fourteen 

 soft rays. It is of a bluish black color above with bronzed 

 reflections, and below of a bluish white. It loves clear 

 cold limpid lakes and swift rivers ; it is a delicious fish and 

 a bold biter. It abounds in Seneca, Cayuga, and Crooked 

 Lakes of New York, and in all the great northern lakes, 

 though it is not found to the north of these. 



The ROCK BASS, centrarchus ceneus, peculiar to the 

 same waters, is a smaller fish, rarely exceeding a pound or 

 a pound and a half weight. 



Its color is dark coppery bronze above, with green 

 metallic reflections, the sides coppery golden, with several 

 rows of dark oblong spots. 



Its dorsal fin has eleven spines and twelve soft rays. 

 It is abundant in the lakes, in the Hudson river, and 

 in many adjoining lakes and rivers into which he has been 

 casually or intentionally introduced. 



The GROWLER, Gristes Salmoneids. This fish consid- 

 erably resembles the black bass, and arrives at nearly the 



