New-York tribune., 1881-09-11

his range The speckled trout will soon be a mem-
ory only, for the cool streams through which he
flashes are drying up before the encIoachments OF
civilization. and he is the prey of other fish more
Iavenous and powerful. But the Black Bass is
equally at home in Florida Canada; he thrives
in all waters, still or fow,ng he holds his
against every antagonist. and is without doubt des
tined to be the leading game-tish of the future
throughout the United States
Beyond question: then, the Black Bass is we'll worth
writing about. and it NAV as we'll be said at the
outset that the contents of DR.. Henshaps book
Justify the promise of its ample title. The subject
is timely and attractive one and the author treats
1t with the enthusiasm of genuine sportsman and
the keen observation of naturalist 1t is true that
he lapses into poetry for three four pages, but
this passage be readily recognized by the capital
letters at the beginning of each line, and should
be studiously skipped. AS general thing, how
ever, he crucifes his propenson to rhapsody and
exclamation points. and his suggestions to the
vice IN fishing most sensible and practical and his
instructions direct, explicit and comprehensive.
His descriptions of the various kinds of tackle and
their comparative usefulness excellent. Equally
valuable the elaborate Instructions for fly
fishing, casting the minnuw, shil-fishing. and
| trolling. More interesting still is his study of the
habits of the fish and Inc conditions which govern
his biting.
The first part of the book contains every impor-
tiht hClcubiuC inscription OF bne Black baSS
which has yet been printed, and excellent iustra-
tons are given of both the large mouthed
and the smal all-mouthed species. The first chap
ter we'll illustrates the perplexites of natural
lists who strive for rigid enforcement ot the laws
which govern scientific nomenclature. These laws
are well stated bv Professor Jordan. Every genus
must bear the Oldest (genericl name bestowed on
any of its members, unless this name has been pre-
viously used for something else. is glarngly false
otherw so lneligble every species must bear the
first (speciGc) imposed upon it unless. as
before, it be for reason or another ineligbe),
ana the proper name OF any species must he made
by combining the above mentioned specific and
generic names" Now the two species of Black Bass
have received eleven different generic ana more
than twenty different specific name,. In many or
these cases it difficult and III some impossible,
to determine which species had been decorated
with particular tltle. In cases one of them
was described and the description illustrated by
poor drawing of the other The first name was ap-
Piled as early as 1900, and 1t is 10 bc hoped that
the fish has ut last been christened for aood by Dr.
Henshall. Everybody should be reasonably salts
fled with Mic,ogterus d0Iomieu foI the small
mouthed Black Bass and MicropteraS salmoidcs for
the large-mouthed one. 1t is true that Mc1Optcus
or small fin" was selected the creatures appro-
pirate name because the specimen to which it was
applied had met with misfortune in his youth
part of his dorsal lin having been swallowed by
some of his voracious brethren. /" Dolomjeu" too Ia
the name of II Frenchman who probab never saw a
Black Bass and sdimoideS is bad Latin and worse
description, for there is nothing trout-ke" about
this tine fellow. Nevertheless the names are quite
appropriate for Black Bass as they are for any
other fish, and they successful as the ordinary
efforts OF scientific persons Who find signi-
fcant appellations for plants and birds and beasts
and crceplng things