50 Book op the Black Bass. 



Both species often inhabit the same waters in the north- 

 ern states, and there is some diversity in their habits where 

 they exist together. Naturally, the small-mouth bass pre- 

 fers rocky streams or the gravelly shoals and bottom springs 

 of lakes and ponds, while its large-mouth congener lurks 

 about the submerged roots of trees or sunken logs in rivers, 

 and delights in the beds of rushes and aquatic plants of 

 lacustrine waters; but they readily adapt themselves to 

 waters of various conditions, when transplanted, easily ac- 

 commodating themselves to their surroundings, and have 

 a happy faculty of making themselves at home wherever 

 placed, so that in some localities their habits are as anoma- 

 lous as their colors. 



There is a prevalent notion that the small-mouth bass is 

 the " game " species par excellence. In common with 

 most angler^ I at one time shared this belief, but from a 

 long series of observations I am of the opinion that the 

 large-mouth bass, all things being equal, displays as much 

 pluck, and exhibits as Untiring fighting qualities as its 

 small-mouth cousin. 



Ichthyologists have at various times given to the genus 

 Micropterus numerous appellatives, and to the species more 

 than fifty specific names, while laymen in different sections 

 of the country have contributed their quota of vernacular 

 names, among which may be mentioned: bass, black bass, 

 green bass, yellow bass, river bass, bayou bass, slough bass, 

 lake bass, moss bass, grass bass, marsh bass, Oswego bass, 

 swago bass, perch, black perch, yellow perch, trout perch, 

 jumping perch, Welshman, salmon, trout, black trout, white 

 trout, chub, southern chub, Eoanoke chub, achigan, etc. 



In addition to this formidable and perplexing array of 

 names, there are other evils which add very much to the 

 confusion attending the nomenclature of the black bass. 



