White Perch — Part 2

Morone americana (Gmelin)

Images coming soon.

"I have every reason to believe that the latter was astonished, as for a single second there was no response; then came a jerk that almost lifted me from the boat, and the line went hissing over the rail like a living thing, playing a merry hornpipe of its own composition. Nothing could stop such a rush, and I simply waited, while Joe pulled up the anchor. When the latter was in, I grasped the line and braced back for the fight. The light boat whirled around like a top, and away we went, like a tug surging through the water, an ominous wave of foam rising high around the bow.

"A 10-foot shark never pulled harder than this gamy fish, and for 5 minutes it was a question who was master. I took it in with the greatest difficulty, gaining 10 feet, only to have the fish rush toward me and then dash away with an impetus that was more than irresistible. Then I would stop him again, slowly making foot by foot, hand over hand, taking a turn on the cleat, slacking and pulling, in attempts to tire the monster-tactics that for a while were of no avail.

"One of the tricks of this fish was to stop and jerk his head from side to side violently, a proceeding that produced an effect equivalent to striking blows at the holder of the line-tremendous jerks that came, one, two, three! then one, two, three!-then the line would slacken as the fish rushed up. And if I took the line in quickly enough to prevent a turn, well and good; if I did not, the fish would turn and dash at the bottom, making everything hum and sing.

"Giving and taking, hauling and easing off, for 20 minutes, I was almost satisfied that I had done my whole duty in the premises, when suddenly the fish rushed up, and recovering, I took in slack, and with a final effort brought the black giant to the surface. For a moment I saw a pair of eyes as large as those of an ox, a rich chestnut black, and then, with a tremendous heave, the fish threw itself over, deluging me with water and half capsizing the boat. It was the last struggle. I kept my hold, and with another haul had the king of Pacific coast fishes at hand's-length, where it rolled and tossed, its huge tail bathing us with spray, protesting against its capture.

"What a wonderful creature it was! The experience of the moment, the sensations, could not have been purchased. It was worth going a long way to accomplish. Imagine, you casters of the black-bass fly, a small-mouthed black bass lengthened out to 6 feet, bulky in proportion, a giant black bass,-one that you would dream about after a good day's fishing,-almost a facsimile of the 5-pounder you have taken pride in, but increased to a size that tips the scales at 347 pounds! Imagine this, and you have the jewfish, black sea-bass, or Stereolepis gigas, of the Pacific coast-a noble fish, a gamy fellow, especially adapted to the man who desires animated dumb-bells, or who, sedentary in his habits, requires violent exercise combined with much excitement.

"It has always been doubted that a large jewfish could be taken on a rod; but during the summer of'94 I went to the jewfish grounds one August day with Major Charles Viele of the United States army, and watched him bring a jewfish of 158 pounds' weight to terms, on a Tufts-Lyon yellowtail rod of 16 ounces and a No. 21 Cuttyhunk line, in just 2 1/2 hours! The struggle was most exciting, and a fine exhibition of skill on the part of the fisherman. We had struck a school of these giants at Silver Canon, and had we been well equipped could have brought in 6 or 7. As it was we towed in 3-1 of 158 pounds, 1 of 227 pounds, and a small one of 100 pounds."

GENUS PETROMETOPON GILL

The Enjambres

This genus is close to Epinepbelus, from which it differs in the absence of processes and longitudinal ridges on upper surface of the frontals; a curved or angular ridge across the posterior portion of the frontals in front of the supraoccipital, connecting the parietal crests.

There are in our waters 3 species, only 1 being of much value as food. This is the cony or red hind, Petrometopon cruentatus.

This beautiful fish ranges from Florida and the West Indies to Brazil. It is common about Cuba and Jamaica, but appears to be rare about Porto Rico. At Key West, where it is called cony, it is rather common about the reefs. It reaches a foot in length and is a good food-fish. It takes the hook readily, and is a very active little fish.