Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1883-08-23
,r Tha- saenfeefe of

or elonging.-.~ThA-hass.isA-menfberef-
the Percoid (perch) family, having the
spine-rayed dorsal fin, coarse scales.
and distinctive form of that variety of
fishes, and it resembles a.ttout. in about
the degree that an OK resembles race
horse. ~. 49,.
The subject of this paper is best known
in the North and West, at least, as the
black bass, and as such, unheeding the
weighty and sonorous . christening of
specialized savants, we propose consid-
ering him. There are peculiarites of
color, due to differences of location,
food and water, not, however. of sufli-
Gent importance to constitute ~ claim
tor new variety, to be met with, in
the North and South; but in all these
waters are to be found two separate
and distinct varieties, viz: the large and
the small mouth Both species are
found in the POTOMAC, aid aithoughlthe
dltference-between them is marked, it is
not always noticed by the angler.
True. these differences, save so far as
they tend to better comprehension
and more intelligent conception of the
needs OF the sport followed, are not inn
portant to the angler pure and simple,
but 1t is believed that the true sports
man is and should be. interested in the
habits and belongings of the game he
follows, ifforne better reason than that
it contributes not a little to his success
and enjoyment, - = 49, =
The large-m0uthed bass is thicker
about the head and sshouhers, and is
generally heavier, fish for its lenoth
than his small -ln0utfled brother. giving
the idea of strength rather than. activity
and. as the name, implies. has a much
larger mouth. A vertical line drawn
from the centre of the eye will strike
forward of the angle of the. mouth,
whiles in the small-mouthed it passes
quite behind it. | believe the large
mouthed bass, from its more powerful
build and consequent slower movement,
Is Oftener the inhabitant of deep, still
pools, and is therefore more frequently
taken with bait than with the, artificial
fy, while his more active relative sports
amid the rapids, and ventures into
shallow water in search of food, where
a surface lure. like the fly, is more
easily discerned, and to which he is
therefore more often, the victim. 1t is
indisputable also that as a rule the
heaviest fish are taken with bait, as
they can rarely be coaXed to the surface
from the depths they inhabit by the,
artificial fly. This is much to be re-
GREETED. as the sport of taking them is
vastly superior with the latter device.
In fact l believe that theip capture with
either bait or fly can not be predicted
with any degree of certainty. By this
| mean with the certainty with which
under certain conditions of weather
and water successful sport. may be cx-
pected with fish in general, Further
more. both varieties are more often in a
mood when no bait or lure-be il ever
so attractive-will tempt them to bite
Beyond cavil-when so inclined
afford splendid sport with the rod. and
line; but even then a tyro or novice in
fly casting will not be apt to carry home
a heavy creel, and none of weight
worthy of record. - =
Both varieties are vOraciOus feeders,
and not at all particular as to quality.
When hard pushed they will even eat
their own young, and they show no
quarter to frogs. water snakes, minnows,
heldomites. eraw-fish, young cells, grass
hopperS, insects of all kinds, nor in
fact, to almost anything alive capable
of being swallowed and digested Their
powerful jaws enable them readily to
crush the protecting armor of any of
the freSh-water cruStacea. and, from
their great strength, yoracity, and gen.
eral pugnacious disposition, they should
never be introduced into streams where
other fish are expected to prosper =
Washington Star. ~ 800