CHAPTER XV. 
OF THE BLACK, OR OSWEGO BASSE. 
This is the favorite game fihh of the northern and western 
parts of our country, and is found in abundance in most of 
the northern lakes and western rivers. To our piscatorial 
friends in New-York, Ohio, Michigan and Kentucky, they 
afford unceasing delight, and no fish receives more enco- 
miums as to the pleasure derived, either from the rod or fork. 
His usual size is about twelve to fifteen inches in length 
by two inches in thickness and five inches broad. The color 
is deep black along the back and sides, growing lighter to- 
wards the belly, and becoming yellowish, in the female. It 
has a thick oval head ; large mouth, with rows of small teeth; 
a wide dorsal fin near the centre of the body ; another to- 
wards the tail, with corresponding pectoral and anal fins. 
The body is quite thick near the head, and tapers regularly, 
terminating in a swallow tail. It feeds principally on small 
fish, which betray its proximity by rising to the surface to 
elude pursuit. It is best token with minnows and other 
kinds of small fish, but bites freely at lobsters and muscles. 
The Buffalo correspondent appears to think that the black 
