154 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 



cheek scales are relatively much larger, nearly as large as its 

 body scales. 



Also, there will be found ten or eleven rows of scales be- 

 tween the lateral line and the dorsal or back fin of the Small- 

 mouthed Bass; while there will be found but eight rows in 

 the Large-mouthed Bass, owing to their larger size. 



These differences might be epigrammatically expressed 

 thus: Small mouth and small scales; large mouth and large 

 scales. The angler who remembers this will never be at a 

 loss to identify the Black Bass species. 



COLORATION. 



The coloration of both species of Black Bass varies greatly 

 in different waters, and often in the same waters. It may 

 run from dark, bronze-green, brownish or almost black, to 

 bright green or even a yellowish-green. Usually, however, 

 the Small-mouthed Bass is darker than the Large-mouthed 

 Bass, the prevailing color in both being olive-green. The 

 color is always darkest on the back, becoming lighter on the 

 sides, and fading out to white on the belly. 



There are usually various darker markings on the cheeks 

 and body. In the Large-mouth the body marks are usually 

 faint, longitudinal, clouded streaks; while in the Small- 

 mouthed Bass they are transverse or vertical indistinct bars. 



In a day's fishing the angler may take Bass of a dozen dif- 

 ferent shades; but if they are kept on the same string, or in 

 the same basket, he will find at the close of the day that all 

 of the same species are of the same color. 



BREEDING. 



It is also well known that the Black Bass is a spring or 

 summer-spawning fish, according to climate, this function 

 being greatly influenced by the temperature of the water, 

 occurring as early as April in the extreme South, and as late 

 as July in the deep, cool waters of the extreme North. 



