Fish, Fishing and Fisheries of Pennsylvania. 93 



CHAPTEE XVI. 



HiSTOBY OF THE BLACK BaSS. 



When a survey of the waters of the state is made, and in every river 

 and lake having- hard rocky bottoms are found black bass, sometimes 

 to the practical exclusion of other species of larg-e fishes, it seems 

 almost incredible that a little more than thirty-three years ago, not a 

 specimen of this member of the perch tribe was to be found therein. 

 Yet this is, as far as known, absolutely correct. For the introduction 

 of this magnificent game and table fish the people are indebted, pri- 

 marily, to the g:enial and enthusiastic angler, "Thad" Norris and, sec- 

 ondarily, a number of ardent Easton and Philadelphia fishermen. 



Early in 1870 Mr. Norris, who was thoroughly acquainted with the 

 habits, game, qualities and table merits of the black bass, feeling satis- 

 fied that this, species of fish would do well in the waters of Pennsylvania, 

 broached the subject of introducing a number to Mr. Howard J. Eeeder 

 and G. W. Stout. These gentlemen entered enthusiastically into the 

 project and a considerable sum of money was speedily raised, Mr. Nor- 

 ris collecting about $1,000 and Mr. Stout $313. 



With one-halt the amount collected, about four hundred and fifty 

 black bass were purchased at Harper's Ferry. These fish were mature 

 specimens taken from the Potomac river, which was full of them, the 

 river having been incidentally protected through the civil war. 



The bass thus purchased were taken to the Delaware river, where 

 they were deposited, October 26, 1870, just below the Lehigh dam at 

 Easton. Shortly afterwards a number of other public-spirited citizens 

 residing- along the Susquehanna and Schuylkill rivers, purchased a 

 number of fish from the same locality on the Potomac, paying therefor 

 one dollar each, and planted them in those two streams. 



The result surpassed their expectations. The fish took kindly to 

 their new quarters and multiplied in such amazing quantity that in 

 three years they were caught in the Delaware, Susquehanna and Schuyl- 

 kill rivers in great numbers. Fish four and five pounds in weight were 

 frequently caught in 1873. The voracity and eagerness with which 

 they took both bait and fly, the stubborness and vigor with which they 

 fought for freedom and life when hooked, speedily made them a favorite 

 g-ame-fish among anglers, many old brethren of the rod, indeed, declar- 

 ing that the new fish yielded more sport than the speckled trout. 



A welcome surprise to the angler, the black bass, was a disagreeable 

 one to the net fisherman. To the indignant astonishment of the latter, 

 when caught in the summer and fall, within the sweep or bag of the seine, 



