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HABITS OF THE BLACK CRAPPIE’ IN INLAND LAKES 
OF WISCONSIN. 
By A. S. PEARSE, 
University of Wisconsin. 
I. INTRODUCTION. 
The black crappie, Pomowis sparoides (Lacépéde), is particularly 
common in the Great Lakes region and the upper Mississippi Valley, 
and ranges from the Lake of the Woods and Ottawa south to Texas 
and east to New Jersey. It was selected for careful investigation on 
account of its ability to thrive in shallow, dirty water, which is sub- 
ject to wide variations in temperature. Such qualities make the 
Fic. 1—The black crappie, Pomozis sparoides. 
crappie particularly desirable for propagation in ponds. It was 
hoped that a careful study of its habits in certain Wisconsin lakes 
might furnish material for a comparison with the perch, which had 
been previously studied in the same localities (Pearse and Achten- 
berg, forthcoming report), and which is at its best in deep lakes. 
Stated in general terms, the object of this paper is to describe the 
habits of a fish which flourishes in shallow, muddy lakes, so as to 
furnish a basis for comparison with those of the fishes characteristic 
of deep, clear lakes. 
«This fish is also known as the silver bass, strawberry bass, grass bass, barfish, and 
calico bass. 
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