50 FAMILIAR PISH, THEIR HABITS AND CAPTURE 



very similar in shape and appearance to a sunfish, 

 being short in body, with a high back^n fact, quite 

 round in contour. The usual color is a very light 

 silver-green, with irregular mottled spots all over the 

 body, and fins of a dark-green or olive shade. Very 

 frequently these fish have a decided pinkish color, to 

 which they owe the name of "strawberry." They 

 are a comparatively small fish, averaging from three 

 quarters to one pound, three pounds being on record 

 as the largest. Almost always in schools, they are 

 usually taken in June, July, and August, but very 

 few being caught earlier or later. They have a 

 remarkably small mouth, are fairly game fighters 

 for a little time, and are very good fish for the table. 

 The most disliked of the bass family, the hete 

 noire of fishermen, is the rock bass, quite as familiarly 

 known under the name of " goggle-eye " or " red- 

 eye." "Wherever and whenever one fishes for black 

 bass, there will be found this nuisance to take one's 

 bait and get hooked. Especially is this true when 

 minnows are being used, and one has only a few. 

 They are a small fish averaging from one half a jiound 

 to three quarters of a pound, rarely reaching one 

 pound. While fairly good for the table, they are infre- 

 quently eaten, perhaps chiefly because of the dislike in 

 which they are held. The average fisherman throws 

 them back with disgust. In shape, they are short and 



