Habits and Haunts of Striped Bass. 249 



close by calls for his utmost exertions, and, like an arrow, the 

 birch-bark skiff is shot towards the spot, when the man in 

 front, resting on his knees, with much force and dexterity sends 

 his three-pronged harpoon straight on the fish, which, if large, 

 may give a considerable deal of trouble before it is safe in the 

 canoe. This bass attains an enormous size, individuals of eighty 

 pounds in weight having been captured. The generality, 

 however, of all I have seen taken in the above situation, with 

 one or two exceptions, did not exceed six pounds, although I 

 know of many of from twenty to thirty pounds having been 

 speared in the rivers at distances varying from sixty to ninety 

 miles inland. The numbers found in fresh water in winter 

 make it uncertain whether or not there is any regular season 

 for its return to the ocean. From all accounts, it is partial to 

 seaboards indented by long creeks and fiords,* with rocky 

 bottoms and shoals, where it delights in following the boats 

 in winter. Whether there be really a dormant condition or not 

 during winter, it is the case when the rivers are frozen that 

 numbers of bassf may be seen lying perfectly motionless on 

 the bottom, when by making holes in the ice they may be 

 easily speared or captured by dip nets. It rises to a red and 

 gold artificial fly, but evidently prefers bait, more especially 

 squids, clam shell-fish, smelt, lobster, etc. As a game fish 

 and as an article of food the striped bass stands high, whilst 

 the beauty and symmetry of its outline, more especially of the 

 smaller-sized individuals, recommend it to notice. 



The Yellow Perch is one of the most common of the 

 resident fresh-water fishes,^ as I have noticed elsewhere, even 

 in lakes frequented by the ravenous pike. Its congener, the 

 white species (M. Americana) , is also widely distributed. 

 Some observers surmise that perches, sticklebacks, and such 

 fishes armed with spines, hold their own against the pre- 



* Perley, op. cit., p. 180. 



t The word is derived evidently from its native name, " bassagis." 



X It spawns early in May, on sandy bottoms. 



