FISHES OP NEW YORK 463 



strawberry perch, chinquapin perch, goggle-eye perch, silver 

 perch and sand perch. Still other names of local application are 

 barfish, bitter head, tinmouth, sac-q-lait, lamplighter, razor- 

 back, goggle-eye, black croppie and lake croppie. The species 

 is mentioned in the fish laws of Pennsylvania under the name 

 of Lake Erie bass or grass bass. 



The distribution of the calico bass is naturally extensive, and 

 it has been still further increased by artificial introduction. 

 The fish has been carried to France, and examples measuring 

 about 8 inches in length were recorded there several years ago. 

 There is, however, some confusion in that country between the 

 calico bass and the common sunfish, and there is no doubt that 

 some of the latter species have been introduced into Germany 

 under the mistaken belief that they -were calico bass. 



This bass is indigenous east of the Alleghanies from New 

 Jersey southward to Georgia. It abounds in the Great lakes 

 region, Mississippi valley south to Louisiana, most common 

 northward \ and occurs in the Missouri. In the Ohio valley 

 it was rather uncommon till its introduction in large numbers. 

 It was introduced into the Susquehanna river by the Pennsyl- 

 vania Fish Commission, and has become acclimatized there; also 

 into the Monongahela, the Lehigh, and other waters. 



Fishermen of the region about Montezuma informed Dr Meek 

 that the fish is frequently taken from the canal near that place, 

 where it is known as calico bass. The U. S. Fish Commission 

 obtained two examples in Long pond, at Charlotte N. Y. Aug. 17, 

 1894. 



This bass grow<s to a length of about 1 foot and a maximum 

 weight of nearly 3 pounds, but the average weight is about 

 1 pound. It spawns in the spring, and the close season in some 

 states extends to June 1. Gravid females were caught near 

 Havre de Grace Md. in May. These w^ere taken in the Susque- 

 hanna and 1 Tidewater canal, where the species is becoming 

 rather abundant. The food of the calico bass consists of worms, 

 small crustaceans and fishes. Though a native of deep, sluggish 

 waters of western rivers and lakes, it readily adapts itself to 



