The Channel-bass 193 
fish. The gamy creature would have joined 
forces with the current and towed us out to sea 
but for the strenuous efforts of the boatman; and 
so, ever fighting, making a brave show of resist- 
ance, the fish came in, cutting the water with 
splendid side rushes, growing shorter and shorter 
until I had it on the quarter, its burnished sides 
flashing in the sunlight, and as it turned and lay 
upon the surface, I saw why some call it the red- 
drum, as a red golden iridescence caught my eye 
as though for a second the fish had blushed. I 
passed it forward to the mercies of the gaffer, who, 
with a clean-cut lift landed and held it up for my 
inspection. It was a most attractive fish, weighing 
between thirty and thirty-five pounds, which had 
engaged our attention—a minute per pound, 
according to the boatman. 
The channel-bass bears a strong resemblance 
to the California roncador. The body is long 
and well proportioned; the back perfectly arched 
from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail; 
the nose blunt, mouth opening parallel to the 
ventral line or bottom of the fish. The head is 
long; eye small; dorsal fins low, the second dor- 
sal being long and beautiful. The tail explains 
the gamy nature of the bass, being a large and 
oO 
