THE BASS AND THE PIKE FAMILIES. 



BY L. A. SPENCER. 



Photographs by the Writer. 



HE name small- 

 - mouthed black 

 bass would nat- 

 urally convey 

 the idea that its 

 month is small, 

 but this is not 

 the case, for na- 

 ture has been 

 quite generous 



LARGE-MOUTHED BASS. j n t h e mat ter ; 



the only apparent reason for the 

 name being given to this species, which 

 is known as the Micropteriis dolo- 

 mieu, is that its mouth is a little smaller , 

 than its very near relative, the large- 

 mouthed black bass, or Oswego bass, as 

 it is designated in some locations, the 

 scientific name of which is Micropterus 

 salmoides. The latter species attains a 

 weight considerably in excess of its con- 

 gener, but it is not nearly as game, and 

 therefore does not appeal to the angler 

 with as much interest. The writer has 

 observed and carefully studied the char- 

 acteristics of both species for several 

 years, in both the exhibition and re- 

 serve tanks at the New York Aquarium, 

 where every movement and action of 

 the fishes are distinctly seen. A long 

 acquaintance with the small-mouthed 

 black bass has produced the conclusion 

 that for pluck, fighting propensity, and 

 downright originality in its method of 

 strategy to get the best of the angler 

 when hooked makes it a very close sec- 

 ond, if not fully equal, to any member 

 of the salmon family, in game qualities. 

 Of this I am quite positive: that this 

 aristocratic fish should take rank with, 

 and is entitled to associate with, the 

 'Tour Hundred" of fishes. When being 

 fed with small live fishes, the observer 

 will soon realize that the bass is more 

 deliberate, and makes the strike for its 

 game with greater accuracy, and hits 

 the mark oftener than rnost of our game 

 fashes, 



Probably very few people who know 

 fishes would think that one could judge 

 quite correctly the disposition of many 

 species by their expression ; look at the 

 mouth of the black bass, observe the set 

 jaws, and the keen, relentless eyes, in 

 connection with its dignified mien. 

 Taken together, they are nearly as ex- 

 pressive as the features and actions Of 

 the human race. It seems to me that 

 among the large number of sportsmen 

 who are fond of fishing comparatively 

 few appreciate the gamy qualities, or 

 are aware of the fine flavor of the flesh 

 of this most excellent fish. The black 

 bass is fast becoming better appreci- 

 ated, as indicated by the increased inter- 

 est in their artificial propagation, and 

 extended distribution of the young ; also 

 the inquiry and demand for adult bass, 

 for stocking streams and ponds in loca- 

 tions where the species is not known to 

 exist. The writer has been quite re- 

 cently asked in regard to procuring, and 

 the method of transporting, live bass to 

 stock some of the waters of Europe. It 

 appears as if it will be many years be- 

 fore the black bass will be generally 

 plentiful, if ever. 



The question of what kind of bait to 

 use to entice the bass is an important 

 one. If practical, find out what food 

 there is in the place where you intend to 

 fish, and also if there is not an abun- 

 dance of it. All of our game fishes 

 have, without doubt, a decided prefer- 

 ence for some particular food. If one 

 could know whether the choice was 

 some of the minnow family, the young 

 of the white perch, or perhaps the hell- 

 gramite, the problem of the best bait to 

 use would be easily solved. If the ang- 

 ler is after black bass, that have been 

 feeding upon small fishes for a long 

 time, it would not be any inducement 

 for them to rise for the same kind of 

 baft ; then is the time \q use something 

 more enticing. 



