Fishing in North Carolina. 25 



general rule the small mouth have small scales 

 and the large mouth have large scales." 



The small mouth variety more commonly 

 affects running water with its presence, while 

 the large mouth prefers still, deep water. 



In winter, like most other fishes, the bass 

 seeks deep water and lies near the bottom in a 

 partial state of torpidity. In the hottest sum- 

 mer days he also prefers the gloom and solitude 

 of deep holes, under logs or under banks where 

 the water is cooler. Therefore one will infer 

 that the season for catching the bass is some- 

 what limited, to the early spring before spawn- 

 ing time and in the autumn. The writer be- 

 lieves September and October are the best 

 months for this kind of fishing. 



Bass run up to as much as ten pounds weight 

 in this territory, growing larger in states 

 further South ; but they are seldom taken with 

 hook and line weighing more than five pounds. 

 Even if the tackle holds securely, there are 

 usually so many snags, and this is where the fish 

 generally lie in pairs, that it is almost impos- 

 ible to get a big fish out after being hooked. 



