92 Fish and Game Warden. [Bull. No. 1. 



moss," that up ta the time of the flood of 1903 grew in great 

 abundance in the lake. Since the vegetation has been lost the 

 water of the lake has become more or less roily, and even 

 muddy at times. Bass have not done well in the lake since the 

 flood. When the proper vegetation is restored it will be pos- 

 sible for the bass to become common in that body of water 

 again. 



However, our most accurate observations concerning the life 

 history of the Black bass have been made during the past four 

 years, or during the period that we have had charge of the 

 Kansas State Fish Hatchery at Pratt. 



The spawning period of this fish varies with the season, in 

 the state of Kansas, from the middle of March to the middle of 

 June. We have records of the fish being on their spawning 

 beds as early as the 11th of March and as late as the 17th of 

 June. However, the common spawning season extends from 

 about the middle of April to the middle of May. Weather and 

 water conditions cause the season to vary. In 1911 the warm 

 weather during a considerable part of the month of March 

 caused a number of bass to mate and spawn. In some of the 

 ponds the fish made nests and deposited their eggs in the shal- 

 low water along the north shores that faced the south. How- 

 ever, later in the season a cold spell chilled the water almost or 

 quite to the freezing point. Many of the bass nests were in 

 water that was not more than from twelve to sixteen inches in 

 depth. Most of the fish deserted their nests and eggs when the 

 temperature of the water got below 40 degrees (Fahr.), and 

 when the temperature neared the freezing point all the fish 

 deserted their breeding grounds. Many of the deserted eggs 

 were eaten by minnows an other small fish. Those that re- 

 mained in the nests were soon covered by a white fungus such 

 as usually destroys fish eggs deposited in nests that are not 

 continually cared for by the parent fish. 



The above instance is mentioned to show, among other 

 things, that the bass have no definite spawning season, but are 

 governed largely by weather conditions. If the water gets 

 warm and conditions are favorable, they may spawn so early 

 that other conditions developed later on will cause them to de- 

 sert their nests and eggs. Observations go to show that when 

 the water gets cold, nearing the freezing point, the eggs usually 

 turn white, due to fungus growths. Even though the parent 

 fish should remain over the nest, the chances are that the eggs 

 would mostly go bad. The spawning season this year (1913) 

 began about the middle of April, and by the middle of May all 

 the larger fish had spawned. The colder the water the longer 

 it takes the eggs to hatch. We have watched nests in the cold 

 water of early springtime where the eggs were deposited 

 seventeen days before hatching began. In May and June, 

 when the water is warmer, the eggs usually hatch in from 

 seven to twelve days. 



