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Bass (Name of a number of fishes)

the name of a number of fishes of several genera, but originally belonging to a genus of sea fishes (labrax) of the perch family, distinguished from the true perches by having the tongue covered by small teeth and the preoperculum smooth. L. lupus, the only British species, called also seadace, and from its voracity sea-wolf, resembles somewhat the salmon in shape, and is much esteemed for the table, weighing about 15 pounds. L. lineatus (roccus lineatus), or striped bass, an American species, weighing from 25 to 30 pounds, is much used for food, and is also known as rockfish. Two species of black bass (micropterūs salmonides and M. dolomieu), American fresh water fishes, are excellent as food and give fine sport to the angler. The former is often called the large mouthed black bass, from the size of its mouth. Both make nests and take great care of their eggs and young. The centropristis nigricans, an American fish of the perch family, and weighing two to three pounds, is known sea as the sea bass.