460 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



quantities of them to the West Indies, and likewise use them as 

 bait for halibut and cod. They are known by several names; the 

 Dutch called them Morsebonkers; the Manhattans, Panhagens; 

 the Narragansetts, Menhadens; and the people inhabiting eastern 

 Long Island, Skippangs. 



The Black Bass {Lahrax JS^'igricans). — This fish found its way 

 to me through the Erie canal, and ran uj) a creek on my farm 

 to spawn, where it was taken in large numbers and transferred 

 to the ponds, together with many other valuable fish from the 

 Great Lakes. My attention was called to them from the peculiar 

 and extraordinary manner in which they were preparing to depo- 

 sit the ova and milt in large holes, made by the most strenuous 

 exertions of both male and female, who were so intently occu- 

 pied with their pleasing occupation as not to heed me, though 

 sitting on the back of a horse that was alternately drinking and 

 pawing the water, within a few feet of them. They deposit their 

 ova in May, and the small-fry are hatched by the first of June, 

 the term of incubation being about twenty-one days, the same as 

 the fowl. 



The body is oval, back round, color greenish, bands transverse, 

 stripes oblique, three in number, running from the root of the 

 tail to the eyes, and they grow until twenty inches long, weighing 

 seven or eight pounds. When taken with the hook he becomes 

 perfectly furious, and fights as long as life lasts with determined 

 rage, thus affording fine sport to the fisherman and a delightful 

 morceau for the table. 



I caught at the same time another fish closely resembling the 

 black bass, but different, having a mouth three times larger, a 

 larger head and larger scales. In other particulars he might 

 readily have been taken for the same fish; he thrives in artificial 

 waters, but does not mix or associate with the black bass. They 

 spawn in April. The female, unassisted by the male, forms a 

 species of nest in the gravel, in which she deposits her ova; he 

 follows, impregnates and covers them. The flesh of this fish is 

 inferior to the black bass, though firmer; when taken he is very 

 fierce for a minute, then gives up and lies quietly until he dies. 

 Both his jaws are lined with recurved acute teeth, as well as the 

 vomer and palatines. The tongue likewise has a row of teeth on 



