220 THE STONE BASS. 



singular and interesting of our fishes. Their colors are generally brilliant ; in some of the 

 genera are some of the most brilliantly colored of any known lishes. The sexual differences 

 are very great in some species, the females being more sombre in color and more speckled or 

 barred than the males. Most prefer clear running water, where they lie concealed under 

 stones, darting from under with great velocity when hungry. They all can turn the head 

 from side to side, and lie with the head turned on one side at times, the body supported on 

 the expanded ventrals. The Ammocrypts are fond of lying concealed under the sand, the 

 eyes only exposed. They are carnivorous, feeding greatly on larvae of Diptera. All are small 

 in size, being at most eight inches in length. The group Microperca are the smallest spiny- 

 rayed fishes known, being only about one and a half inch. The general aspects of this 

 numerous family are here indicated. The species would require volumes to describe. They 

 are interesting and beautiful, but of no account commercially, and scarcely large enough for 

 food. 



The well-known Black Bass of America (Centropristis atrarius) inhabits the rivers 

 and lakes of North America. 



This tine fish is a really valuable species, on account of its large dimensions and the 

 excellence of its flesh, and the attention of scientific men has lately been turned towards 

 its preservation. In the Patent Reports upon some Black Bass that were transferred to 

 Waramang Lake, Connecticut, some years previous, it is said that they multiplied very 

 rapidly, grew at the average rate of one pound per annum, and ordinarily attained a weight of 

 five pounds or a little more. They are very hardy, and can be taken from one locality to 

 another if placed in a tub of water covered with a wet canvas. So rapid, indeed, is its 

 increase, that although less than a hundred were originally placed in the lake, they have 

 probably increased to several millions in a space of seven years. 



It is a marvellously bold-biting fish, and affords good sport to all anglers, whether they 

 only fish for the sake of the amusement, using a fly or other delicate bait, or whether they 

 merely seek to take their prey as a matter of business, and employ small fish as a bait, or the 

 obstruction "spoon," whose treacherous glitter the Black Bass is seldom able to withstand. 

 It is an active and powerful fish, and when hooked struggles so long and so fiercely, that it 

 tests all the angler's skill before it can be safely landed. 



The color of the Black Bass is brown, washed with golden-green, and mottled with dark 

 spots on the centre of each scale, darker on the back, and becoming nearly white on the 

 abdomen. When newly caught, the body is traversed with several dark bands. It is a very 

 fine fish, specimens having been known to weigli nearly twenty pounds. 



Black Sea Bass {Serranses atranius). This fish ranges from Cape Cod to Florida. It 

 is called Black Perch in Massachusetts ; Black Bass and Black Fish in New Jersey. 



The Striped Bass (Hoccus lineatus) is one of the most notable of our sea fishes — one 

 of the largest and finest of our game fishes, reaching four feet in length. Dr. Storer records 

 one that weighed eighty-four pounds. We have taken small ones off Nahant rocks by 

 angling, while fishing for Tan tog. It is found in our markets nearly all the year. 



Closely allied to these fish is an enormous genus, containing about one hundred and 

 forty known species, from which the Ouatalibi, or Ruddy Serranus (Serrdnus ouatalibi), is 

 selected as an example. 



This beautiful fish inhabits the warm Caribbean Sea, and is plentiful upon the West 

 Indian coasts. Its color is bright red, and the head, body, and sometimes the dorsal fin, are 

 profusely powdered with small blue spots, edged with black. Just by the joint of the lower 

 jaw there is a pair of largish black spots, and on the back of the tail, immediately behind the 

 dorsal fin, is another black spot. Of its habits nothing interesting is told. 



The Stone Bass is an inhabitant of the European seas. It is otherwise known as 

 Couch's Polyprion, in honor of the eminent naturalist who first made it known as an own 

 species, and as Jew-fish and Wreck-fish — the last title being given to it on account of 

 its habit of frequenting drifting timbers, apparently for the purpose of feeding upon the 



