CHAPTER XXI. 
Tue Srripzp Bass is known the entire length of the 
sea-board of the United States, and is almost as popular 
as the salmon. The reasons for this are, he is game in the 
highest sense of the word, fighting with the most deter- 
mined obstinacy as long as his strength will permit; fre- 
quents alike the ocean. tideway or river, taking generally 
with avidity the greatest varieties of natural and artificial 
baits; and ultimately being fit food for the most fastidious 
epicure. By naturalists he is placed among the perch, and 
has been named Perka labrax, an indignity which he is in 
no way deserving, for he is built on the beautiful lines of 
the salmon, possibly with a little more depth and beam, and 
his coloring has a near approach to that of the lordly Salmo 
salar, save that horizontally along his sides are placed sev- 
eral lines (generally seven) from the gills to the tail, and 
from which he doubtlessly derives his familiar name. Early 
in April, if the weather be favorable, these fish make their 
appearance in the rivers en route to their spawning beds— 
(from this date they become the object of attention to the 
pot-hunter ; for I can not call the man who tries to capture 
fish in that state by the name of fisherman)—where they 
remain for some time, probably over a couple of months. 
This duty performed, they return again to the coast, afford- 
ing sport for a short period, then disappear, to return in 
September and October in immense numbers, gladdening 
with their advent the heart of every sportsman. 
Their size is so varied that they may be taken from the 
weight of a few ounces up to sixty and even more pounds, 
