THE FISHES OF GEORGIAN BAY 41 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 39b 



a. Mouth very large, the posterior end of the upper jaw reaching past the vertical of 



the posterior margin of the eye. Scales large ; 6 to 10 rows on the cheek 



salmoides 



aa. Mouth smaller,the posterior end of the upper jaw reaching a point beneath the middle 

 of the eye. Scales smaller, those on the cheek in 12 to 17 rows .... dolomieu 



Micropterus salmoides, Lacepede. 



(Large-mouthed bass. Green bass) 



(Plate I, Fig. 1) 



Fairly abundant in weedy swamps, swamp channels, and inland lakes. It 

 reaches a weight of 5J lbs. and possibly more, though as commonly taken it is 

 from 1 to 1| lbs. The young of all sizes are abundant in the shore swamps and in- 

 land waters. This species is said to reach a weight of 14 lbs. in the southern parts 

 of the continent. 



Body moderately elongated, the depth 3 to 3-6. Head 2-8 to 3 '3. General 

 coloration dark olive green above, white below. More or less irregular blotching 

 dorsally. A lateral band made up of more or less disconnected blotches, very 

 conspicuous in the young fish; sometimes also in the adult, but usually in the latter 

 much broken, obscure or even absent. Dorsal fin with 10 spines and 12 soft rays. 

 Anal with 3 spines and 10 soft rays, its base contained 2- 6 to 3 in that of the dorsal. 

 Scales8or9, 63to70, 12tol4. 6 to 10 rows on the cheek. 



. The food consists of smaller fishes, some specimens containing insects and 

 crayfish. The fish is commonly taken by bait-fishing or trolling but in this region 

 is not sought after. 



The spawning period is in the early part of June. The nests are commonly 

 placed in swamp bottoms where there is a deep deposit of detritus. For this reason 

 the fish construct, by fanning out with the fins, huge basins, sometimes of three 

 feet in diameter and a foot into the bottom. The eggs are watched by the male 

 fish. After hatching, the fry gradually rise out of the nest, and begin to swim around 

 in large schools. Th6y are light in color and have a conspicuous lateral stripe. 

 Like the fry of the small-mouthed bass, they are commonly found with the abdomen 

 greatly distended from the ingested entomostracan food. 



Micropterus dolomieu, Lacepede. 



(Small-mouthed bass. Black bass) 



{Plate 7, Fig. 2) 



Abundant in its favorite habitat, frequenting during the summer season 

 rocky shoals, channels, and runways among the islands, where there is vnoxQ or 

 less clear or moving water; also pools about the openings of swamps where min- 

 nows commonly wander to and fro. Frequent in running water at the foot of 

 waterfalls. 



