4/0 Roosevelt Wild Life Annals 



1916 (No. 529F). Here the water was clear and shallow, with gravel and cobble, 

 and there were a few patches of water willow (Dianfliera) and filamentous green 

 algae about which they dwelt (see Fig. 209). In few cases did we find the fish 

 over mud bottom. Our observations were thus in accord with those of \\'ickliif 

 in Lake Erie ('20, p. 364). 



In winter Small-mouth Black Bass go to deep waters and lie about rocks, 

 ledges, or roots and the like, in a semi-dormant manner and evidently do not take 

 food (Beeman, '24, p. 93; Henshall, '03, p. 8). The adults come to shallow water 

 in the spring to breed, as heretofore noted, and preference is given to areas with 

 stumps, large rocks and similar objects which shield the nest on the shore side 

 (Lydell, '04, p. 39). During the summer Bensley obtained evidence of the non- 

 migratory nature of the species ('15, p. 44), by tagging 100 individuals. Seven 

 were taken after 4-30 days of liberty, and all were found in the neighborhood of 

 the place where they were liberated. Belding ('26, p. 79) shows a familiarity 

 with the Small-mouthed Black Bass in 269 lakes in ]\Iassachusetts and has classified 

 these lakes as to their productive capacity for this species. In 49 of them the 

 species thrives especially well. From his study of these lakes and undoubtedly 

 from other data he concludes concerning the habitat of this species, as follows : 

 The area of a good lake should be at least 50 and preferably over 100 acres. 

 The average area of the 49 favorable lakes was 185 acres as compared with 90 

 which did not produce many of these fish, which had an average of 85 acres. 

 The depth, he concludes, should be not less than 20 feet, and preferably over 

 30 feet. A depth sufficient to give a thermal stratification seems to be favorable. 

 As to other conditions, Belding writes: "Swampy or dark colored, muddy waters 

 and excessively muddy bottoms should be avoided and clear or turbid, light colored 

 waters selected. Too little or scanty vegetation is unsatisfactory and excessive 

 vegetation such as is found in shallow warm water lakes is unsuitable. The 

 character of the shores and the presence or absence of inlets or outlets have no 

 bearing on the suitability for this species." 



Food. Little has been known of the food of this species in a definite way 

 until Pearse published the results of his studies in Wisconsin Lakes ('18, '21, 

 '21a). This was followed by thorough studies of the young Small-mouthed Black 

 Bass in Lake George by Moore ('22), and of the young fish in Lake Erie by 

 Wicklifif ('20). It has been known that the little bass found along shore feed 

 upon insects, and that tlie very young advanced fry eat abundantly of entomostra- 

 cans. Hatchery men have known the importance of furnishing these fish with 

 such food (Lydell, '04, p. 43). In regard to the feeding of the young fish on 

 entomostracans, Beeman ('24, p. 105) says: "When abundantly supplied, they 

 simply gorge themselves. I have no doubt that a young, healthy bass ^^ of an 

 inch in length consumes several hundred Crustacea daily. . . . When the work 

 of feeding begins, there is no letup." The large bass, it has been generally known, 

 feed upon crawfish and thrive best where these exist. But insects and fish, it has 

 been observed (Bean. '03, p. 489), also form an important part nf the fond of the 

 adult. The results of examination of stomach contents of iiulividuals of this species 

 two inches in length are given below in tabular form. 



