FOURTEENTH ANNUAL MEETING. 



perch and yellow perch were so taken in a single season, I never 

 knew of a single black bass being so taken except very late in the 

 winter or in early spring, say in March, just before the breaking up 

 of the ice; and even in those instances were of rare occurrence, and 

 happened only during unusually mild weather; and these same 

 waters, be it remembered, afforded the finest black bass fishing 

 during the summer and fall." 



The above applies to the usual fishing grounds of the lakes and 

 streams of Wisconsin with the water at moderate depth, from four 

 to twelve feet, which are frequented by the black bass, large- 

 mouth and small-mouth, in common with the non-hibernating 

 species in spring, summer and fall, but only by the latter in 

 winter, the bass retiring to greater depths at the begining of 

 winter and remaining until spring, and where they can be taken 

 by the initiated with the right kind of bait; but as I deem such 

 information of no special advantage, except to the poacher and 

 law-breaker, I think it best and proper, for obvious reasons to 

 withhold it. From personal observation I am pretty familiar 

 with the habits of both species of black bass at all seasons of the 

 year, in all of the States east of the Mississippi (except the New 

 England States, New Jersey and Delaware), and with the excep- 

 tion of the Gulf States, I am convinced that both species of black 

 bass hibernate in a greater or less degree, according to the supply 

 of food in the winter season, or in other words, according to the 

 climate. In these exceptional States, during the hottest weather, 

 they retire to the deepest and coolest water to be found, and 

 undergo a condition of rest and seclusion (aestivation) analagous 

 to hibernation; perhaps an inherited instinct. 



In the foregoing hastily- written paper I have endeavored to 

 show: (i) That hibernation of fishes (and other animals) is 

 influenced more by the supply of food than by the temperatures 

 for it is well authenticated that fishes can endure extremes of 

 temperature that would prove fatal to other vertebrates. (They 

 have revived after being frozen in ice, and on the other hand, 

 they live in apparent comfort in the water of hot springs of a 

 temperature of above loo degrees Fahr.) (2) That both species 

 of black bass hibernate in the northern sections of America. — 

 Cynthiana, Ky. 



