232 



L WER VER TEBRA TES. 



fish, who remain over them, and, by a constant motion of the fins, ei'eate a current 

 which keeps the eggs free fi-om all sediment and debris. After the eggs are hatched, 

 and while the young remain on the nests, the vigilance of the parent fish becomes 

 increased and unceasing, and all suspicious and predatory intruders are driven away." 

 After escaping from the egg, " the young fry remain over the bed from two to seven 

 days," after which they " retire into deep water, or take refuge in the weeds, or under 

 stones, logs, and other hiding-places." 



The growth of the bass depends upon the warmth of the water and the quantity 

 of food ; when the latter is plentiful they gi-ow very rapidly. They attain maturity 

 in about three years. The maximum size varies for the two sjjecies. The large- 

 mouthed black-bass occasionally reaches a weight of about fourteen pounds, but in the 

 north six to eight pounds ai-e the largest that would be likely to be found. The small- 

 mouthed bass never reaches so large a size, and, indeed, is not found in the regions where 

 the large-mouthed species attains its greatest size. " The maximum weight of the 

 small-mouthed form of the north and west may be said to be four or five pounds." 



Both species of black-bass are ravenous feeders, and attack almost all kinds of fish. 



Fig. 133. — Micropterus dolomieu, siiiall-mouthed black-bass. 



and those nearly their own size are not exempt from danger. They are even a formi- 

 dable enemy of the pike, and when a bass and pike of equal size are pitted against 

 each other, the chances are in favor of the bass. These fishes, therefore, are not suit.a- 

 ble for introduction into small ponds, as they would soon depopulate the water. 



It is asserted that in the north the " black-bass undoubtedly hibernate," and, 

 according to Dr Henshall, " it has been proved, in numerous instances, that they bury 

 themselves in the mud, in the crevices of rocks, under masses of weeds, or sunken 

 logs, in the deepest water, and remain dormant until spring." In the south hiberna- 

 tion is not effected, and they may be caught throughout the year. 



The black-basses are among the finest game fish in America, and are i)eculiar to the 

 continent. So highly, indeed, are they esteemed for their game qualities, that a well- 

 known English sporting writer, Parker Gillimore, considered one of them to be the 

 superior of the trout, " for he is equally good as an article of food, and much stronger 

 and more untiring in his efforts to escape when hooked." An excellent volume has 

 been devoted to a description of its gaminess, by Dr. Henshall, in his "Book of the 

 Black-Bass," from which our figures are taken. Dr. Henshall informs us that " the 



