QUALITIES OF THE BLACK BASS 



Indigenous and Confined to American Waters 



IT has been said that the black bass is pre- 

 eminently an American fish. Of this no 

 doubt can exist, for it is American born and 

 bred; its industry in foraging for a hving, 

 intelligence of resources to escape capture, and 

 adaptability to any conditions of environment, be 

 it in cold or warm, fresh or salt water, are traits 

 that bring it in line with our fearless and resource- 

 ful pioneers of the Western wilds, who were 

 " plucky, game, brave, and unyielding to the last," 

 and with such qualities the smaU-mouthed black 

 bass is fully endowed. 



Weight 



The black bass grows to a large size; the record 

 for a small-mouth caught in a lake in Glens Falls, 

 N. Y., is eleven pounds. Several of eight pounds 

 have been taken from Lake Ronkonkoma, L. I. 

 These were all small-mouths, but the authentic 

 maximum weight of the large-mouthed black bass 



18 



