FISHERIES, GAME AND FORESTS. 



26l 



TI>e Larcre and sSmaU Aotifl) §lad$ P>ass. 



The large-mouth black bass and the small-mouth black bass are justly celebrated 

 by anglers as being among the finest of our fresh-water game fishes. They closely 

 resemble each other, but may be easily separated by those who will take the trouble 

 to examine them carefully. The large-mouth, as its name implies, has a large, wide 

 mouth, the maxillary extending behind the eye when the mouth is closed, while in 

 the small-mouth this bone is shorter and the mouth a good deal smaller. Along the 

 sides of the large-mouth is a somewhat obscure dark green stripe running from the 

 end of the gill-cover to the butt of the tail. The small-mouth, on the contrary, has 

 no such stripe, but is marked by vague bands running up and down along its sides,, 

 and has three distinct dark markings running from behind the eye across the gill- 

 covers. In habits these fishes vary a good deal, the small-mouth preferring gravelly 

 or rocky bottoms, while the large-mouth often live over weedy or muddy bottoms. 

 The small-mouth, when hooked, fights desperately, frequently jumping out 

 of water to free itself from the hook. The large-mouth, although a good 

 fighter, is less active and seldom 

 breaks the water. The introduction 

 of these fishes into the various lakes 

 and rivers of the Eastern and Middle 

 States from their home in the Great 

 Lakes and the rivers of the South and 

 West, has been a great boon to the 

 anglers, for within an hour's travel of 

 our great cities one can enjoy good 

 sport with these two fishes. 



As food fishes they are variously 

 estimated, some declaring that they 

 are of poor flavor and not so good as 

 the yellow perch which frequently 

 inhabits the same waters, while others 

 pronounce them sweet and juicy and 

 in every way a first-class fish for food. 

 Personally I am exceedingly partial to 

 the black bass, both as a game fish and 

 for the table. Probably a good deal 

 depends on the cooking. A black bass 



HAULING LOBSTER POTS. 



