RIVER FISH AND FISHING. 371 
The two next species, the Buack Bass of the Lakes, 
Gristes Nigricans, and the Rock Bass, centrarchus eneus, 
are originally peculiar to the basin of the St. Lawrence, 
though they have been purposely introduced into many 
other waters, and have introduced themselves, via the 
canals, into the Hudson and other rivers connected with 
those great Canadian waters. 
The black bass is taken from half a pound to eight or 
nine pounds weight, though its ordinary run does not 
exceed, if it reaches, three or four pounds. It has a 
double dorsal, like the preceding species, the former with 
nine sharp spines, the latter with one spine and fourteen 
soft rays. Itis of a bluish black color above with bronzed 
reflections, and below of a bluish white. It loves clear 
cold limpid lakes and swift rivers; it is a delicious fish and 
a bold biter. It abounds in Seneca, Cayuga, and Crooked 
Lakes of New York, and in all the great northern lakes, 
though it is not found to the north of these. 
The Rock Bass, centrarchus wneus, peculiar to the 
same waters, is a smaller fish, rarely exceeding a pound or 
a pound and a half weight. 
Its color is dark coppery bronze above, with green 
metallic reflections, the sides coppery golden, with several 
rows of dark oblong spots. 
Its dorsal fin has eleven spines and twelve soft rays. 
{t is abundant in the lakes, in the Hudson river, and 
in many adjoining lakes and rivers into which he has been 
casually or intentionally introduced. 
The Grower, Gristes Salmoneids,—This fish consid- 
erably resembles the black bass, and arrives at nearly the 
