The Channel-bass 199 
ruary, and remain until August, spawning there 
in the shallow bays, leaving or going to sea in 
October. Dr. Jordan reports young measuring 
two and a half inches at Pensacola in April. 
This gives the Indian River region a channel- 
bass season, of nine or ten months, about equiva- 
lent to that of the yellowtail of the Pacific. 
As a food-fish the channel-bass is of great 
value, those up to ten or fifteen pounds being 
of excellent quality, the older and larger fish 
better adapted to the angler, though I have 
eaten a large channel-bass, seined on the St. 
Johns, that was beyond criticism. The eco- 
nomic value of the channel-bass can be realized 
by a glance at the catch and returns of various 
states. In North Carolina, in 1888, 140,000 lbs. 
were taken, valued at $3800. South Carolina 
took out 50,000 lbs. valued at $1600 in the 
same time. Georgia, 20,085 lbs., valued at $470. 
Florida, 404,557 lbs., valued at $11,000. Mis- 
sissippi, 140,000 lbs. valued at $6000, and Texas, 
838,000 lbs. valued at $32,761. From this it 
will be seen that Texas, where the fish is 
known as redfish, is the headquarters for chan- 
nel-bass and offers an interesting and profitable 
field for the angler. 
