CHAPTER HI 



EOCK-BASS, CALICO-BASS, AND SUN- 

 FISHES 



ALTHOUGH among the smaller fishes, the rock- 

 bass, calico-bass (or grass-bass), and two or 

 three of the sun-fishes, are well worth attention 

 by fish-culturists. They afford excellent food, 

 and their game qualities are not to be despised 

 by anglers. Of the sun-fishes the bluegill, or 

 Lake Erie sun-fish, attains a size suitable for the 

 market, and has a distinct commercial value. 

 Its flesh is firm, sweet, and of high grade. It 

 rises readily to an artificial fly, takes bait with 

 avidity, and gives the angler a short but brisk 

 fight. 



The eggs of the sun-fish can be taken and 

 fertilised artificially, and a gratifying percent- 

 age hatched; but it is found to be easier, 

 cheaper, less troublesome, and quite as satis- 

 factory, to allow the fish to spawn naturally, 



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