The White Sea-bass 21 
But I was in luck, and this catch has lived with 
me ever since. Possibly the bass has grown a 
little every year, gained a pound or so in the tell- 
ing, but it would have done the same had it lived, 
and far be it from me to deprive so noble and 
generous a creature of any prerogative; living or 
dead, it shall grow, at least so long as my gaffer 
lives. 
We have left the fish rushing madly. I had 
caught many bass, but never in shoal water. 
They are taken almost invariably in the deep 
blue water along the rocks, and will often, like 
a salmon, or almost any fish, plunge down and 
sulk; but this fellow could not sulk, hence was 
away, and when I checked it, it dashed around, 
circling the boat so rapidly in a series of rushes 
that only by heroic measures was it saved. 
Twice or more the dash was so impetuous that 
the rod was quickly passed under the oars of the 
boatman to save it, he sending the flat-bottom 
boat around on a pivot in a desperate attempt to 
keep me facing the fish. Fifteen or more min- 
utes slipped away, the bass making inshore 
rushes to secure line, with which to reach the 
deep channel. But the boatman hugged the 
shore, and by sheer luck I kept the plunger in 
