io8 



RECREATION. 



within 12 miles of a city of 35,000 inhabi- 

 tants. 



I heartily endorse your magazine and 

 would not be without it. 



H. A. Farnham, San Jose, Cal. 



yond the eye ; scales rather large ; young 

 always with a blackish lateral band. — 

 Editor. 



POINTS OF IDENTIFICATION. 



Has the common speckled, or brook trout, 

 scales? 



What is the difference between a catfish 

 and a bullhead? 



W. H., Dodgeville, N. Y. 



ANSWER. 



The speckled, or brook trout, as well as 

 all other members of the Salmonidce family, 

 has scales, notwithstanding Lowell's trip- 

 let: 



"One trout scale in the scales I lay 

 (If trout had scales), and 'twill outweigh 

 The wrong side of the balances." 



The scales are always there, and, however 

 small, may be counted. 



All of our catfish and fresh water bull- 

 heads belong to the Siluridce, or catfish 

 family. That family is represented in our 

 fresh waters by several genera. The large 

 catfishes of the Mississippi basin belong to 

 the genus Ictalurus and are invariably called 

 catfish. Another large species, Leptops oli- 

 varis, also found in the Mississippi basin, 

 is usually called yellow cat, mud cat, or 

 goujon. There are many species of little 

 catfishes known as stone cats or mad Toms. 

 They belong to the genera Noturus and 

 Schilbeodes. Lastly, there are about 12 spe- 

 cies belonging to the genus Ameirus, which 

 often go by the common name of bullhead. 



"Don't talk to me o' bacon fat, 

 • Or taters, coon or 'possum; 



Fo' when I'se hooked a yaller cat, 



I'se got a meal to boss 'em." 



— The Darkey and the Catfish. 



B. W. E. 



NIBBLES. 

 I wish to settle a dispute between 2 local 

 anglers. We recently caught several bass 

 and there was an argument as to whether 

 they were black, small mouth, or Oswego 

 bass. Can you tell me how to identify the 

 small mouth bass ? 



W. F. Hartenstine, Morristown, N. J. 



The small mouth black bass should have 

 about 17 rows of scales on the cheek, 

 counting the rows downward and back- 

 ward from the eye to the edge of the pre- 

 opercle, or anterior gill cover. The large 

 mouth bass has only 10 rows of scales on 

 the cheek. Taking other characteristics, in 

 the small mouth black bass the mouth is 

 moderate in size, the maxillary in adult not 

 extending beyond the eye ; scales small ; 

 young more or less barred or spotted, 

 never with a black lateral band. In the 

 large mouth black bass, the mouth is very 

 large, the maxillary in adult extending be- 



While fishing along a brook near here, 

 I saw something that had a body like an 

 eel's, with 2 fins near its head, and that was 

 light pink in color. I have never heard of 

 anything like it and should be much obliged 

 if you would tell me what it is. It was 

 about a foot long and went through the 

 water with a motion like that of a snake. 

 Maurice Sherman, Norwich, Conn. 



ANSWER. 



The description suggests the mud eel, 

 Siren lacertina, a batrachian belonging to 

 the family Sirenidcr, but the mud eel is not 

 known to range so far North as Connecti- 

 cut. It is more likely that the animal you 

 saw is a mud puppy, Nec.turus maculosus, 

 or some species of salamander. Your des- 

 cription is too brief for definite identifica- 

 tion. — Editor. 



Did you ever hear of Balsam lake, Wis- 

 consin, as a bass ground? I was there last 

 fall and the number of black bass and pike 

 was wonderful. 



F. M. Greenlaf, Omaha, Nebr. 



VACATION. 



J. D. L. SCHOONOVER. 



What ef th' sun is sizzlin' hot? 



I'm happy as c'n be ; 

 At las' vacation time is here, 



An' I c'n jes' run free. 

 An' I'm agoin' to start an' do 



Exactly what I please — 

 Ain't goin' to tip my hat to girls, 



Or smother any sneeze. 

 I'm goin' to start right off to-day 



To jes' try an' ferget 

 All I've been teached these last nine 

 months, 



An' I'll get there, you bet! 

 I'll learn more things 'bout butterflies 



'An teachers ever know ; 

 Why eels an' snakes is jes' my size, 



An' I know where they grow. 

 Say, I could tell our principal 



'Bout where to ketch th' bass, 

 But I ain't a-goin' to favor him 



With nuthin' now but sass. 

 An' ef my teacher wuz to want 



A little sumthin' done, 

 Another, feller'd do th' work; 



Vacation has begun ! 

 I ain't a-goin' to min' no one 



I'm jes' a-goin to see 

 Th' greates' time 'at ever wuz 



In my own history ! 



