THE BUCK BASSES, CRAPPIES, AND ROCK BASS. 



DESCRIPTION OF THE FISHES, COMMON NAMES, ETC. 



The species treated of in this chapter are those members of the 

 Gentrarchidae (or freshwater sunfishes) which have come under the 

 scope of iish-culture, namely, the large-mouth black bass {Micropterus 

 salmoides), the small-mouth black bass [Micropterus dolomieu), the rock 

 bass {Ambloplites rt(pestris), the crappie {Pomoxis annularis)^ and the 

 calico bass {Poxomis sparoides). Whatever is said of the rock bass will 

 apply equally well to other sunfishes, which might be here considered 

 but which have not been artificially reared. 



The principal physical characters of these fishes are indicated in the 

 following key, which serves to distinguish the two species of black bass 

 and the two species of crappie from each other as well as from less 

 closely related species. 



Large-mouth Mack bass : Body comparatively long, the depth about 

 one-third the length; back little elevated; head large, 3 to 3^ in body; 

 eye 5 to 6 in head; mouth very large, the maxillary in adults extending 

 beyond eye, smaller in young. Ten rows of scales on the cheeks; body 

 scales large, about 68 in the lateral line, and 7 above and 16 below the 

 line. Dorsal fin low, deeply notched, larger than anal, with 10 spines and 

 12 or 13 soft rays; anal with 3 spines and 10 or 11 rays. Color above 

 dark-green, sides greenish-silvery, belly white; youug with a blackish 

 band along sides from opercle to tail, the baud breaking up and growing 

 paler with age; caudal fin pale at base, white on edge and black between; 

 older specimens almost uniformly dull greenish; three dark oblique 

 stripes across opercle aud cheek; dark blotch on opercle. 



Small-mouth black bass : Similar in form to large-mouth bass/ Mouth 

 smaller, the maxillarj^ terminating in front of posterior edge of eye, 

 except in very old specimens. About 17 rows of small scales on the 

 cheeks; body scales small, 11-74-17. Dorsal fin less deeply notched 

 than in other species, with 10 spines and 13 to 15 rays; anal with 3 

 spines and 12 or 13 rays. General color dull golden-green, belly white; 

 young with dark spots along sides teuding to form irregular vertical 

 bars, but never a lateral band; caudal fin yellowish at base, white at 

 tip, with dark intervening area; dorsal with bronze spots and dusky 

 edge; three radiating bronze stripes extending backward from eye; 

 dusky si)ot on point of opercle. 



Crappie : Body short, greatly compressed, back much elevated , depth 



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