Spawning time of the common sunfish may be anytime within a period ex- 

 tending from the first of June until the beginning of August. The peak of spawn- 

 ing comes either at the end of June or the beginning of July. Like the yellow- 

 belly the nests are built in colonies by the males. These nests are constructed in 

 shallow water and may be made over mud, gravel or sand. After the nest is 

 completed the male lures the female into the nest and spawning takes place, the 

 fertilized eggs dropping to the bottom. The male guards the eggs preventing 

 their destruction by small fishes. 



The food of the common sunfish in Maine has been reported as molluscs, 

 terrestrial insects and plant material. Most of the food is bottom fauna with 

 snails making up a large portion. 



Size of the pumpkinseed in Maine varies from 6 inches to 10 inches. A 

 small boy's fish the pumpkinseed is little sought by the anglers of Maine. 



FRESHWATER SCULPINS (Cottidae) 

 Cottus cognatus Richardson 



The freshwater sculpin or slimy muddler is distributed from southern Can- 

 ada into the Great Lakes drainage and east of the Alleghenies. Ordinarily the 

 freshwater sculpin is a bottom dweller found in gravelly areas. They are most 

 frequently observed in riffle areas of cold trout streams or at great depths in 

 cold-water lakes. 



They spawn in the spring attaching the fertilized eggs in clumps under 

 stones. The male guards the eggs until they hatch. 



Food of the sculpin has been listed as aquatic insects, small fish and algae. 

 The sculpins are frequently accused of feeding on trout eggs. This point needs 

 further investigation and proof. Many of the trout eggs which a predator such 

 as the sculpin could obtain would be trout eggs not properly covered and doomed 

 to destruction at any rate. 



The sculpins themselves furnish food for the lake trout and burbot. 



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