600 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



Family CENTRARCHIBjU. The Sunfishes and Basses. 



41. Ambloplites rupestris (Rafinesqne). Bock Bass. 



According to Thompson, "this fish is here known by no other name than rockbass. 

 It is quite a common fish in Lake Champlain and its larger tributaries. It is 

 usually taken with the hook along the precipitous rocky bauks of the lake and 

 rivers, and from this circumstance it derives its name. It is considered a very good 

 fish for the table, and its weight is usually about half a pound." A nearly ripe 

 female was received from Missisquoi Bay April 25. 



Mr. Titcomb says that the rock bass is quite common in many lakes other than 

 Champlain, particularly in Lake Bomoseen. 



42. Lepomis megalotis (Rafinesqne). Big-eared Sunfish. 



This sunfish is recorded by Thompson from the Connecticut River at Barnet. 



43. Eupomotis gibbosus (Linnaeus). "Sunfish"; " Pond Perch." 

 Mr. Thompson says : 



"This is a very common fish in the coves along the margin of Lake Champlain, 

 and about the mouths of our rivers. Though extensively known by the name of 

 sunfish and pond perch, it is perhaps more generally known by the name of pumpkin 

 seed. It is also sometimes called bream. This fish, though said in Jardine's 

 Naturalists' Library to be of unobtrusive colors, is one of the highest colored and most 

 beautiful fishes found in our waters, ' oftentimes vicing in brilliancy with the tropical 

 fishes.' The sunfish, though often taken with other fishes in the seine, is more 

 commonly taken with the hook, at which it bites with avidity. Its flesh is white 

 and palatable, but the fish being small, thin, and bony, is little sought as an article 

 of food." 



Two examples, the larger 9 inches long and weighing 10+ ounces, were received 

 April 25 from Missisquoi Bay. 



44. Micropterus dolomieu Lacepede. Small-mouthed Black Bass. 



This important game fish is pretty generally distributed throughout the State, and 

 it is probably more abundant now than it was in Thompson's time. He says : 



"The black bass, by which name this fish is here generally knowu, ranks as one 

 of the best fishes taken from our waters ; but, as is apt lobe the case with good 

 fishes, it is much less abundant than several other species which are greatly its 

 inferior in point of quality. It is usually taken with the seine, and its weight 

 varies from 1 to 5 or 6 pounds." 



One small specimen was obtained by us in Missisquoi Bay. Mr. Eli Cameron, of 

 Rouses Point, says there are a good many bass in Lake Champlain, and that they 

 spawn in May and the fore part of June. Samuel Decker says the black bass are 

 abundant and that they spawn in May and June. Others state that the black bass is 

 common in Vermont, and that they spawn in May and June or even as late as July, 

 when they come upon the reefs for that purpose. Mr. Miles claims that the small- 

 mouthed black bass is not indigenous to Lake Memphreniagog, but that it was planted 

 there some years ago. An nuripe male. 14 inches lon<j and weighing li pounds, was 

 received from Missisquoi Bay. Mr. Collins states that only two examples of the 

 species were taken in his seine during the six weeks of its operation ending April 15. 



Mr. Titcomb says: 



"Black bass spawn in June and July. Many fishermen insist that they spawn earlier. 

 On June 12, 1896, I took two small-mouthed black bass iu Lake Champlain on one of 

 the fishing-grounds where it was claimed they did not spawn, but came there from 

 the spawning-grounds. Upon examination both fish were found to be females and 

 full of spawn. The intestines of the stomach were empty and clean, as if they had 

 been washed and wiped out. They undoubtedly took my hook to get it ofi' from their 

 spawning bed." 





