STRIPED BASS. 203 



their Dutcli dictionaries. There could, however, be no 

 more creditable derivation, and as many authorities 

 assert the fact, it is as well to let it pass. The fish are 

 found along the coast from Maine to Florida, although 

 they appear never to have visited Europe, and are the 

 gamest salt water fish of our continent. In their season, 

 which is at intervals from early Spring to late in Fall, 

 they are taken on the bars and in every creek of our ex- 

 tensive coast. The net destroys the greater number, but 

 they bite- freely and fight bravely for their lives. Great 

 skill and experience are requisite for their successful 

 capture when they are shy and scarce, but when abun- 

 dant or hungry, although always a dainty fish, they bite 

 rapidly and boldly. Like the squid of the deep seas, 

 these may be said to be the largest and smallest of fish ; 

 they are taken from an ounce to a hundred pounds' 

 weight. 



The Striped Bass becomes an object of the angler's 

 attention in April, when he runs up the rivers to spawn. 

 He ascends into cool fresh water, until arrested by a 

 natural, or, too frequently, an artificial barrier. He is 

 taken under the Cohoes Falls in the Mohawk, and at Al- 

 bany and Troy in the Hudson, and reaches the very 

 head-waters of the Delaware, where he is known as Kock- 

 fish. Many, and those the largest, do not appear to 

 leave the salt water, and are found in the small bays and 

 inlets. In the fall, when the cold weatber sets in, they 

 retire to the salt water coves and lagoons, where they lie 

 imbedded in the mud or hiding near the bottom, secure 

 against danger, or discomfort from cold or storms. Ad- 

 vantage is taken of this peculiarity by the market fish- 



