The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-11-02
BASS NOW MOVING
TO FRESH WATERS
Stripers on Their Annual
Journey; Movements Some
what Eccentric.
FISH TAKEN FAR INLAND
Rids Itself of Parasites by
Periods of Fasting; Flesh
Best After Migration.
FISH TAKEN FAR INLAND
By w. II. BALLOU.

FoRKEp RIVER. N. j.. Nov. Am In
teresting statement, recently made by
n correspondent in THE SUN, name for
gotten. told Of methods of angling for
striped bass at the mouth OF the Della
ware River and of the aversion OF the
nsh to shadows of boat or bridge, indi-
eating cloudy weather as the best time
to fish for them.
The statement which interested me,
however was to the effect that the bass
were headed down stream, toward salt
water. This statement is misleading and
rails for some explanation. Some bass
might be headed towards salt water so
late in the autumn, but they were not
travelling that way-possibly pursuing
food temporarily.
Striped bass are now moving towards
fresh water, to remain all winter, what
ever eccentric movements they may make
up or down stream on their annual jour-
new. I can find no instance of striped
bass being taken in salt water In jan
uary or February, although / have ex-
amined the fish books in detail.
Nor have 1 been able to find net
fisherman who admits taking one In salt
water in winter. Some ichthyologists
appear to be either uncertain on this
point or neutral, as. for instance. Dr.
Hugh NJ. Smith in 1.-The Fishes OF North
Carolina"
The late DR.. G. Brown Goode, in
american Fishes" however, is positive
on the side Of fresh water wintering, as
much SO as I myself am from observa-
tion and years of investigation. DR..
Goodies whole story Of this species revels
in Instances of January and February
catches in vast quantities with nets.
striped Bass Far Inland.
hrNIt oc NJ
fresh water the dorsal (hack) fms OF the
striped bass are found caught in tho
surface ice of such waters. He finds
their late autumn ascent of fresh waters
stopped only by such barriers as Niagara
Fails. tells of their ascent OF the Mis-
sLssippi as far as st. Louis. Of the Hud-
son to Albany, of the Delaware and
susquehanna to hating dams and OF the
North Carolina and other coastal
streams.
He digs into history and shows the
eagerness with which such notable char
acters as Capt John Smith and others
waited impatiently for the arrival OF
the bass far inland and Of the dinners
they enjoyed when winter made secur-
ing of other fish difficult
In these columns I have before mem
toned the former days when the pres
emit heads Of the Vanderbilt family were
young, and of their annual angling for
striped bass in Long Island lakes in
February or as soon as the ice gave
way SUN dispatches. which / clipped
and fled, told Of the bags they made.
Right at this moment striped bass are
getting scarcer on the ocean eide or
Barnegat Bay. where the water Is very
salt, and are coming over to the land
side, which is fed by many fresh water
streams and springs. They may be
taken in numbers soon in the vicinity
of Bayhead, where they will mass for
the winter.
In other years hundreds of tons OF
the species were taken by net fishermen
at this point From three to four ex-
press cars were loaded with them ana
taken to New York on the last night
runs of passenger trains. causing the
passengers to swear roundly at the
delays.
believe that the State has put some
kind of regulation on such capture but
have not looked It up. At any rate, our
market supplies Of the species In win
Ter, outside of the cold storage product.
are made up solely OF an average annual
output Of 100000 pounds netted In va
rious fresh waters.
Fresh Water Perch Ancestors.
1t should be remembered that the an
eestors Of the striped bass were fresh
water perch. that the species itself Is
really perch. Tho relationship Is
marked The nearest relative of the
fresh water yellow perch Is the white
perch, a fish that enters salt water but
gingerly and which is caught and Melted
largely in both brackish and fresh
waters.
1t may De caught right here now in
The three branches OF Forked River rs
far up as physical conditions will permit
II to CO. 1t may be taken in water
so shallow that 1t barely covers the
sect, on deep mud bottoms. The brother
OF the white perch is the striped bass,
almost Identical in habits. You note the
three links of the chain-yellow perch,
white perch, striped bass. the first of
purely fresh water habitat, the white
perch of brackish (mixture of salt and
fresh water) habitat. and the striped
bass of salt, brackish and fresh water
habitat, according to, season.
The striped bass has been dubbed by
some a scavenger because of its al
legged delving in mud and bitches. mean
ing also that 1t lives on decayed matter
which is the definition of scavenger
Such statements are purely libellous and
libel suit in any court with very heavy
damages and jail sentence for the de-
PENDANT
The striped bass is true carnivore
IT'S sole food being the moss bunker
small fish OF all species, crabs and other
crustaceans Its habits also contribute
TO its perfect health. Like other FISH
II Is subject to Investment by parasites
little worms known as trematodes. nema'
todes and cestodes, which lodge accord
ing to species in its gills. flesh. intes'
tines and liver.
Here again is a strict dividing line
These worms are either of fresh oil
salt water habitat, none of them. SO far
as I can find, being able to live in either
element indifferently. In consequence
II the bass acquires salt water para
sites when In the ocean or bay. ne gets
rid OF them the moment he enters fresh
water, and vice versa.
II you capture a bass in salt water
he is rid of fresh water parasites. ant
vice versa. Naturally. when the basi
nrst arrives In fresh water or first ar
rives in salt water. or whenever yot
find him In brackish water, hts flesh !!
delicious as the lamented John Smiti
claimed. because he is absolutely with
out parasites Of any description. ] can
not say as much for his state OF healtl
between these times.
Both his last days In fresh and sal
water must be miserable for him, in
Tested. as he Is likely to be. with abom
Unable parasites. Already In these col