318 PERC^DJi:. 



line and a skilful hand. Well-made tackle is however, 

 equally indispensable, for when hooked it will run a lot 

 of line off the reel at once, shooting away with extraor- 

 dinary fury and impetuosity, leaping madly out of the 

 water, darting in towards the angler, and not unfre- 

 quently under the boat, and with such strength and 

 activity as demand all the care and address of its 

 captor. Last, though not least, game as it is in its own 

 sphere, its firm flesh and extreme delicacy and richness 

 of flavour, rank it as high in the estimation of the epicure 

 as in that of the angler. 



Exclusively North American, the Black-Basse is a 

 perch-like fish, averaging from three to five pounds in 

 weight, and with a depth proportionate to its length as 

 one to three; it has, I believe, been taken weighing as 

 much as eight pounds. 



In colour it varies very considerably at different 

 stages of its growth, the young fish being a dull light 

 green, changing year by year in hue till full grown, 

 when the head, back, and shoulders are almost black, 

 shaded off on the sides into a dull bronze, which again 

 merges imperceptibly into a bluish-white belly. The 

 young, besides their difference in colour, have a smaller 

 proportionate depth of body. 



They are fished for from the 15th of May till the 

 15th of March. During their spawning time they will 



