Wickliff. — Food of S mail-Mouth Black Bass 369 



The greatest number, 4, eating them occurred between 26- 

 30 mm. Four bass ate crayfish. Their lengths were 40, 45, 

 48 and 51 mm. respectively. Four also ate amphipods. These 

 were distributed throughout the various stages. Three bass 

 between 12-30 mm. ate mites. One bass 33 mm. long ate two 

 spiders. One stonefly nymph was found in a bass between 

 41-45 mm., and one damselfly nymph in a 12 mm. bass. Cole- 

 opterous larvae were found in two bass between 21-30 mm. 



Vegetation was found in 9 bass ranging in size from 8^- 

 45 mm. It was in such small amounts that it was no doubt 

 either accidental in swallowing the prey, or occurred in the 

 food of the animal eaten. Vegetation does not form a part 

 of the diet of the young bass, although in an indirect way the 

 vegetation forms the basis of all fish food, as the animals the 

 fish feed upon in turn feed upon the vegetation. 



Small amounts of unrecognizable material were found in 

 about 5 per cent of the bass. One bass 43 mm. and another 

 65 mm. long had eaten nothing. 



From these results it seems the bass fry and early finger- 

 lings eat practically all the time, and from observation the 

 adults eat intermittently. 



COMBINATION FOOD EATEN BY THE YOUNG BASS 



The best two-food combination for bass fry between 8^^- 

 15 mm. is copepods and cladocerans. Above 15 mm. midge 

 larvae and pupae form the best combination. 



The chief three-food combinations up to 45 mm. in length, 

 were either copepods, midge larvae, and pupae, or cladocerans, 

 midge larvae, and pupae, depending upon the season. Between 

 15-45 mm., midge larvae, midge pupae, and mayfly nymphs 

 also made a good three-food combination. 



The best four-food combination was either copepods or 

 cladocera with midge larvae, pupae, and mayfly nymphs. Add 

 adult insects to the four-food diet and you have the best five- 

 food combination after the 20 mm. stage. 



In the .8^-15 mm. stage, 17 different /kinds of food 



