320 Book of the Black Bass. 



stinct — his desire to eat, or his desire of self-preservation ? 

 K^ow, right here, may be involved the fuiidameiital prin- 

 ciple governing this whole question of a fish's " biting." 



Let US see. That fish can abstain from solid food for 

 an indefinite period, procuring some nourishment from the 

 small organisms in the water they breathe, as in confine- 

 ment, during hibernation, and during the breeding season, 

 is well known, and needs no corroborative evidence here. 



That, when they do feed, and the supply of food is 

 abundant, they completely gorge themselves — some even 

 ejecting the contents of their stomachs to enjoy the grati- 

 fication of refilling them — is also an authenticated fact. 



When their stomachs are thus filled and gorged with 

 food, it is reasonable to suppose that, like other predacious 

 animals, they remain listlessl}' about their haunts, or retire 

 to some secluded retreat, to digest it at their leisure; and, 

 during the process of digestion, refuse to notice their usual 

 food ; for I have frequently observed black bass remain mo- 

 tionless for hours, except a slight movement of the fins, 

 utterly regardless of the schools of minnows that were 

 swarming about them, and this at a season when they iisu- 

 ally "bite" the best. 



Xow, this alternate feasting and fasting may be a neces- 

 sary habit, to enable fish to meet the exigencies of spawn- 

 ing, hibernation (in some), and the vicissitudes of the ele- 

 ment in which they Uve, and the abundance or lack of food 

 at certain times. 



Streams are often rendered turbid by heavy rains, and 

 lakes and ponds by what is termed " working " or " blos- 

 soming." At such times fish can not see well enough to 

 find their food or discern their enemies, and consequently 

 lie secure in their hiding-places. When the water becomes 

 clear, they again venture forth to eat and be eaten. 



