42 MARINE AND FISHERIES 



5 GEORGE v., A. 1915 



As commonly taken in this region the fish is from 1 to 2^ lbs. in weight, speci- 

 mens of 31bs. or over being exceptional. Body moderately elongated, relatively 

 shorter and deeper in old specimens, the depth 2-9 to 3-5. Head 3-1 to 3 •4. 

 General coloration varying from light olive green above and white below, to almost 

 black, the difference depending on whether the fish is taken in the clear open 

 water of Georgian Bay or from the dark water of inland localities. There are all 

 gradations. Sides of the body with more or less irregular vertical bands, conspic- 

 uous in young specimens, but more or less obscure in older ones. Four green 

 or dark bands on the cheek, radiating backwards from the eye and upper jaw. 

 Fins rather light, a character by which the fish may be recognised in the water 

 even if seen only for a moment. Young specimens have a conspicuous semicircular 

 dark band on the tail, forming a somewhat heart-shaped figure, with a dark 

 spot in the centre of the base of the tail. This marking is best shown in fish of 

 two or three inches in length. Dorsal fin with 10 spines and 12 to 14 soft rays. 

 Anal with 3 spines and 11 to 13 soft rays, the length of its base contained 2*5 to 

 2-7 in that of the dorsal. Scales lather small, 12 or 13, 77 to 91, 17 to 23. 12 to 

 17 rows on the cheek. 



The staple food of the small-mouthed bass consists of crayfishes, which inhabit 

 the rocky shoals frequented by the fish. The bass, however, shows a decided 

 preference for minnows, and in the early part of the season when in the shore 

 swamps, or latei when in pools or channels which have swamp connections, min- 

 nows form a large portion of its food. It is an interesting fact that while swamp 

 areas contain an abundance of minnows, the bass tend on the whole to avoid 

 them, and in three cases in which individual fish have been enclosed by accident 

 in such swamps they have been found dead in the water. 



The spawning period is for the most part during June, though fish have been 

 observed on the nests as late as July 20th. Towards the end of May the fish 

 appear in the shore swamps, congregating in groups of sometimes a dozen, and 

 basking lazily neai the suiface of the water, sometimes with the dorsal fin out of 

 water. They have been observed to move out into deep water during days 

 of coldei weather and appear again later. During this early peiiod the male fish 

 apparently explores the shore in shallow water in search of nesting places, and hav- 

 ing found one proceeds to put it in ordei . This process, as well as the deposition 

 and care of the eggs is in all essentials as described by Lydell ('03) foi the species 

 elsewhere. The nest is constructed by the male, which is usually seen working 

 alone. In a few cases both male and female have been observed, but the presence 

 of the latter does not appear to be appreciated. The nest is a shallow basin of 

 15 01 20 inches in diameter, fanned out of the weedy or pebbly bottom, and care- 

 fully cleaned of all debris. The bottom of the nest may be of clean rock or pebble, 

 but is more often of short stems of the aquatic plant Eriocaulon, which forms an 

 ideal surface foi the attachment of the eggs. It is questionable whether the female 

 is selected before or after the construction of the nest, because she commonly 

 remains in the deeper water some distance from shore. There are some indications, 

 however, that in certain cases she is selected before the completion of the nest. 



Before and in preparation for the actual process of spawning the male has 



