242 



NORTHERN FISHES 



Figure ^S. White crappie, Pomoris annulari'i. 6 inches long. 



dividiials may have 7 dorsal spines, like the black crappie. The dorsal 

 fin is always shorter in the white crappie. Its length is much less than 

 the distance from the origin of the dorsal to the eye. Five or 6 anal 

 spines are present. The length seldom exceeds 12 inches. Adults may 

 weigh from 1 to 2 pounds, though weights up to 4 pounds have been 

 reported. 



The white crappie is found from southern Minnesota eastward to 

 southern Ontario and southward to the Gulf. It occurs in the Atlantic 

 drainage of Alabama and South Carolina. Minnesota records for this 

 fish are largely from lakes and streams in the southern part of the state. 

 This species is virtually absent from lakes in northern Minnesota and 

 is rare in or absent from many lakes of central Minnesota. It is rather 

 common in western and southern Wisconsin (Greene, 1935) . 



This fish reaches about the same size as the black crappie and is an 

 excellent pan and game fish. Spawning occurs in the late spring and 

 early summer. The spawning habits are like those of the black crappie. 



BLACK CRAPPIE (Calico Bass, Strawberry Bass, Grass Bass) 

 Pomoxis nigro-maculatus (LeSueur) 



The black crappie (Figure 49) , formerly known as Pomoxis sparoides 

 (Lacepede) , is elliptical in shape, though somew^hat elongated and 

 much compressed laterally. The forehead is somewhat dished but 

 usually not as much as in the white crappie. The color is more or less 

 silvery, with numerous black or dark-green splotches. There are no bars 

 on the sides of adults, though bars are prominent on juveniles. The 

 black crappie is usually much darker in general color than the white 

 crappie. It is usually distinguished from the white crappie by the dorsal 



