Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 02.djvu/660

BASS. and spirited fish, calling for the highest skill. In the upper waters of the tidal rivers, when found resting below the rapids, it will take a gaudy fly very greedily, and give fine sport.

The yellow bass {Slorone interrupta) of the Lower "Mississippi Valley, the white perch (Morone Americana) of the Atlantic Coast (but also sometimes landlocked ), and the white bass, or white perch {Morane chrysops). of the Great Lakes and Mississippi Valley, are all excellent food fishes, and are true bass. Other marine fishes are sometimes styled bass, as the weak- fish and various relatives, which are 'sea bass,' one {Ci/noscion tiohiUs) being the 'white sea-bass' of the" Californian markets. In the Southern States the drum (Pogonias) is so known.

The Fresh-water Bass belong to the simfisli family, Centrarchidre. and are prominently rep- resented by the two black bass of sportsmen^ thesmall-niouthed ( Micropterus dolomieu) and the large-mouthed ( Mirropterus salmoides). In waters east of the Alleghanies they are imported fish, getting into the Hudson through the Erie Canal as early as 1825. They were first planted in the waters'of eastern New "York and the other Middle States nearly fifty years ago, a small quantity having been brought" in 1853 from the Youghio- ghcny River and planted in the Haltimore and Ohio" Canal, whence they found their way into the Potomac. Susquehanna, Delaware, and other rivers. The small-mouthed bass prefers clear, run- ning streams, but the large-mouthed prefers quiet waters. The latter grows to a larger size, an ex- treme weight being 20 pounds, a not uncommon weight 6 to 10 pounds. Both are variable in color and highly esteemed for food, and both are among the best, if not the very best, game-fish of the United States.

The fishing varies as to time and apparatus. In the Great Lakes, at certain haunts, like the Bass Islands, in Lake Erie, catches are made only in spring and fall, when the fish are leav- ing or returning to their winter haunts. Troll- ing with a rod is a favorite method in lakes and ponds. The most artistic and enjoyable way is to cast with rod and reel, using either a live minnow or a fly. Special tackle has been devel- oped for this p'urpose, the fly-rod being as light and comely as that for trout, though somewhat heavier tackle must be used on lakes than along streams, where a 7y2-ounce rod 10 feet long suf- fices, with a fine line, very strong leaders, and hooks less than No. 2. The flies used are larger than those for trout, brown, red, and black 'hackles' being reconuycnded for general use. A shorter and. by a trifle, heavier rod is used for minnow-casting. The time for bass-fishing in the Gulf States is in autumn and winter; in the Northern and Central States in May and June, or in September and October. This is with reference to their peculiar habits of midsummer spawning in nests.

Other species in this family are the rock-bass or red-eye {Ambloplite.t rupestris) and the cal- ico or grass bass (Pomoxis xparoides) . both good food fishes, and much used in the Mississippi Valley. See Plate of Fresh-water Bass.

BASS, has, (1726-180.3). The first Protestant Episcopal bishop of Massachusetts, his native State. He graduated at Harvard in 1744, was ordained in England by Bishop Sher- lock in 1752. and on his return became and re- mained through life rector of Saint Paul's, at Newburyport. In 1797 he was consecrated first Bishop of Massachusetts, his jurisdiction being afterwards extended over New Hampshire and Ehode Island. For his life, consult I). D. Addi- son (1897).

BASSANIO, bas-sa'ne-6. Portia's lover in Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice (q.v.). He cliose the leaden casket and won her for his wife.

BASSANO, bas-sii'no (anciently Bnssan«ni). A city in North Italy, on the Brenta River, and the Padua-Bassano Railway, 30 miles north of Padua (Map: Italy, F 2). It has a castle and high walls, and is picturesquely situated at the foot of the Alps. In the cathedral and the other churches, and in the museum, are paintings of J. Bassano; Canova's "Death of Socrates" is in the Villa Eezzonica. Bassano has potteries and tan- neries, and a great printing establishment, and an active commerce in silk, cloth, leather, oil, wine, and asparagus. In 1796 Bonaparte defeated the Austrians under Wurmser here. Population, GIOO.

BASSANO. The name applied to a family of Italian artists, from their residence, a town near Vicenza; their real name was da Ponte. — Fr.cesco, founder of the family, was prob- ably a pupil of Bartolonuueo Montagua at Vi- cenza. The most prominent member of the family was his son and pupil .Jacopo (Giacomo) DA Ponte (1510-92), who was, however, more influenced Ijy his study of the works of Titian at Venice. After practicing in the manner of Titian and Bonifazio, he returned to Bassano, where he formed an individual style, suggested by his riistic environment, and became the founder of genre painting, properly so called, in Italy and Europe. His subjects are for the most part landscapes with people and the accessories of the peasantry, or else pastoral scenes from the Old Testament in which the sacred personages appear as peasants. He was also celebrated as a portrait-painter. Tlie most striking technical features of his painting are the bold play of light and the gem-like effect of his coloring. Two of his best works from scriptural subjects are in his native town; the museums of Vienna. Dres- den, and Paris are particularly rich in examples of him. — He was assisted by his four sons, of wliom the most important were Fraxcesco( 1545- 97) and Leanuro ( 1558-l(i23). Francesco's best- known work is a painting on the ceiling of the Ducal Palace, 'enice, "Tlie Capture of Pavia by Night." Consult Berenson, Venetian Painters (New York, 1894).

BASSANO,, Duke of (1763-1839). A French statesman. At the beginning of the Revolution he was editor of the nuUetin (the original of the Moiiiteiir). contain- ing the proceedings of the Constituent Assembly. n position which gave him much political influ- ence. At first inclining to the Jacohins. he subse- quently favored a constitutional monarchy. In 1792 he became chief of a bureau in the Mibistry of foreign Affairs, and after August 10, 1792, was employed in various diplomatic missions — as envoy to England, to Naples (1793), and to England again ( 1797 ). He cooperated with Napoleon in the" coup of the 18th Brumaire (1799). He became Najjoleon's confidential adviser, and later his Secretary of State fen- Foreign Affairs. During the Hundred Days, Napoleon made him Duke of Bassano, He was in exile during the Restora-