A NIGHT'S BASS FISHING. 



"»5 



moved Eastward through Algoma to Lake 

 Temiscamingue, and South to the Parry 

 sound District of Ontario. 



Those taken in the neighborhood of 

 Lake Temiscamingue might well be called 

 a sub-species, as the markings are much 

 darker than on those found in the West. 

 The districts to which they have perma- 

 nently migrated are heavily wooded, and a 

 change of habit therefore became a neces- 

 sity, so that now we find them in this re- 

 spect identical with the ruffed grouse 

 (Bonasa umbellus). 



In the early spring, the birds pair off. 

 Some authorities believe they are guilty of 

 polygamy. Shortly after mating, those fan- 

 tastic " grouse dances," and drummings, 

 are indulged in by the over exuberant 

 lovers. These performances have given 

 rise to a lot of imaginative nonsense, on the 

 part of writers who get their knowledge of 

 birds from the " stuffing " process of some 

 guide, whose ideas of truth and accuracy, 

 are limited only by the credulity of his lis- 

 teners. 



The Northern sharp-tail lays its eggs in 

 June, in a nest roughly constructed, on the 

 ground, but cosily lined with feathers. 

 There are usually 11 to 13 eggs in the 

 clutch, of a grayish olive color, with closely 

 dotted pin-head spots of brown. 



When the young are hatched, the whole 

 family takes to the now long grass of the 

 prairie, and as you pass along some of the 

 trails, you will see, every little while, the 

 scurrying of the mother and her brood 

 from the roadway, where they have been 

 sunning and " dusting " themselves. They 

 feed on grasshoppers, crickets, beetles and 

 seeds, relishing the first named and con- 

 suming untold quantities of them. 



As a game bird, the sharp-tail fur- 

 nishes grand sport. Especially are they ap- 



preciated by lazy men, who prefer to shoot 

 them from a buggy, or wagon, with dogs 

 trained to range close, and to retrieve the 

 game when brought down. Many interest- 

 ing articles have been written, and many 

 more could be, showing the possibilities of 

 man's enjoyment when in pursuit of that 

 which he finally bags, after meeting it on 

 its own domain; but such would not come 

 within the limitations or province of this 

 paper. 



As the winter approaches, the birds take 

 to the thickets, on the borders of lakes and 

 rivers, and may then be found perched on 

 trees; obtaining their food from the buds 

 of the willows and aspens. 



Dissection of the crop and stomach, at 

 this time, often reveals the buds in an ad- 

 vanced stage of growth, having the soft 

 fleecy down, known to boys as " pussy 

 cats." I have often taken twigs from the 

 crop i$4 inches in length; also a dark 

 round berry, the name of which I have not 

 been able to learn. 



Let anyone look at the feet and toes of 

 this species, and observe how Nature pro- 

 vides for all — each according to its needs. 

 The legs are heavily furred, the coat en- 

 veloping the entire feet, and the under side 

 of the toes are scaled, with hard sharp 

 plates or laminae, which prevent the soles 

 from being cut by the frozen snow. These 

 also aid the bird in its search after what 

 ground food is procurable, during the long 

 severe winters which it experiences. 



It is said to burrow under the deep snow, 

 when frightened, and even to sleep there; 

 but I cannot get this authenticated. I know 

 it flounders through the light fleecy crys- 

 tals, which are characteristic of its home, 

 often passing underneath for a yard or so, 

 but this cannot consistently be called bur- 

 rowing. 



A NIGHT'S BASS FISHING. 



F. L. DAVIS. 



The proposal to spend a night on the 

 shore of the Potomac, above Washington, 

 was first made by Chic. He dwelt with 

 enthusiasm on the hunger of bass at the 

 darkest hours, and of their known fondness 

 for any kind of bait, provided it was sup- 

 plied after nightfall. Will at once jumped 

 at the idea; anything promising sport 

 suited him. I was a little cautious and, 

 while willing to go, was doubtful of the 

 wisdom of spending a night on a river 

 bank. However, we decided to go, and 

 agreed to meet at 7 o'clock, the next even- 

 ing. 



At the appointed time Chic came with 3 

 blankets, strapped around his shoulders; 

 Will brought 2 tin buckets, a liberal allow- 

 ance of lunch and fishing tackle; while I 

 furnished more lunch, another supply of 

 tackle, and a hammock. 



A trolley car from Georgetown, and a 

 transfer beyond Tennallytown, to another 

 trolley, took us to a point on the upper 

 Potomac, near old Cabin John Bridge and 

 the Chataugua, which we reached before 

 midnight. There was hardly moon enough 

 to light the way and soon Chic confessed 

 he was slightly turned around and did not 



