206 American Fisheries Society 



Spawning at Chautauqua Lake is at water temperatures of 

 from 68 to 72 degrees F., and the period of incubation is from 

 10 to 14 days. The nests are constructed in from one to three 

 feet of water and vary in size and depth, the average nest being 

 from 8 to 12 inches across and from 6 to 10 inches deep. The 

 construction of those at Chautauqua Lake varies according to 

 the soil; some of the nests are without much depression, but 

 such are usually in a root or log or bog. Three bullheads were 

 seen in one hole at the same time, but the sex was not 

 ascertained. 



There is a great variation in the spawning season of bull- 

 heads ; as late as July 17th we found a nest of eggs from a pair 

 of bullheads native to that particular section of the canal. We 

 secured a sample of 2,188 eggs from a female estimated to 

 weigh one pound. 



Dr. Emmeline Moore, whom some of you heard at the meet- 

 ing of this Society last year at Louisville, Ky., on the Foods 

 Which Feed the Little Bass, has made some notes on the bull- 

 head as follows : 



Bullhead nests were under observation in ponds 'Nos. 1, 2, and 3, 

 from June 9th to June 23d. The typical nests were neatly rounded holes 

 dug into the mud near the edge of the pond with about 8 to 14 inches 

 of water covering them. The diameter of the holes was about 11 

 inches. The shape of the holes was that of a hollow cone extending 

 into the mud at an angle of about 30 degrees, and at a depth of 14 

 inches to 2 feet. There were variations from the type nest. One pair 

 of bullheads used a deserted muskrat hole. Another nest had a curious 

 outlet extending upward vertically from the middle of a cone shaped 

 nest. This outlet presented the appearance of a crayfish hole in diameter 

 and workmanship and its function may have been that of a runway for 

 enemy crayfish to steal fry from the nest. 



The two parent fish were occupied on the nest during the incubation 

 period, one relieving the other or both remaining on the nest together 

 for a short space of time. Their chief activities were concerned with 

 the protection of the nest from intruders and in keeping the water in 

 circulation, a process accomplished by a movement of the fins while 

 with head forward they hovered over the nest. 



The parent fish were not observed bringing off their brood, but 

 judging from the size of the fry seen thereafter, the incubation period 

 must be from 10 to 14 days, and that soon after hatching the fry are 

 led forth to suitable forage grounds. 



