FAMILY CENTRARCHIDAE 229 



Oklahoma. It has been introduced extensively elsewhere. It is widely 

 distributed in Wisconsin. Originally the range of the smallmouth bass 

 in Minnesota was virtually limited to the Mississippi drainage. It is 

 extremely doubtful that it occurred in the Red River drainage ex- 

 cept where introduced. It occurs with the largemouth bass in several 

 lakes at the headwaters of the Ottertail River and also in the head- 

 waters of the Mississippi. In the Mississippi the smallmouth bass is 

 sometimes quite abundant above Minneapolis, but it is perhaps most 

 abundant in the main river channel above and below Lake Pepin. It 

 seldom occurs in the connected sloughs. It is still common in the Kettle 

 River, where it is supplied largely by runs from the St. Croix River, It 

 is found also in the Snake River and Lake Pokegama, It occurs more 

 or less sporadically in tributaries of the Mississippi in the southeastern 

 counties and more commonly in tributaries of the St. Croix. For many 

 years Lake Miltona in Douglas County was probably one of the most 

 noted smallmouth lakes in the United States, but in recent years inten- 

 sive fishing has destroyed much of its reputation. Both the smallmouth 

 and the largemouth bass are found in many other lakes in the same 

 area, but less abundantly. The smallmouth bass now occurs in Lake of 

 the Woods and in certain nearby small lakes north of the Canadian 

 border. The writers are informed by H. H. Mackay of the Ontario Game 

 and Fisheries Department that smallmouth bass are not native to Lake 

 of the Woods. He states that in 1901 and thereafter smallmouth bass 

 were planted in Long Lake, which is separated from Lake of the Woods 

 by a small channel and dam. The dam was destroyed soon afterward, 

 and the bass escaped into Lake of the Woods. Bass were planted also in 

 other small lakes of that region. 



Most of the repeated efforts made to extend the range of the small- 

 month in Minnesota waters have had doubtful success, even when adult 

 fishes were used. The records of stocking in the files of the Minnesota 

 Game and Fish Department prior to 1920 offer little information about 

 the distribution of the smallmouth, for the entries are as "black bass," 

 with no separation into species. Since 1920 the records give the species 

 and indicate that all attempts to stock the northern coffee-colored 

 streams have failed. Attempts to stock clear-water lakes in the border 

 counties, where all conditions appeared favorable, also usually ended in 

 failure. In a few northern waters where smallmouth were successfully 

 introduced and reproduced in large numbers, as in Bear Lake in Lake 

 County, they never exceeded 6 inches in length, regardless of age. The 

 habitat preference of smallmouth would therefore appear to be clear, 

 moderately cold, swift-flowing streams and moderately sized, clear- 

 water lakes with clean gravel bottoms. 



Dr. Henshall (1891) , whose writings did more than anything else to 

 draw attention to the superb fighting qualities of this fish, said: "He is 

 plucky, game, brave and unyielding to the last when hooked. He has the 



