4/6 Roosevelt Wild Life Aitimls 



Leeches 

 Placobdella uioiilifera ]\Ioore. Pearse, '24, p. 181. 



COPEPODS 



ErgasHiis centrarchidarnm \\x\g\-\t. Evermann and Clark, '20, p. 298. 



Actheras aiubloplitis Killicott. I'earsc, '24, p. 182; Evermann and Clark. '20 



p. 298.^ 

 Ac theirs micro ptcri Wright. Pearse, '24, p. 182. 



The fry of the Small-mouthed Black Bass before they leave the nest are sub- 

 ject to the attacks of various predators. IMeehan ('13, p. 23) notea that sunfish 

 (Bluegills) and even young bass of larger size attack the fry at this critical period. 

 Bean ('92, p. 117) gives as other enemies of this species, crawfish, birds, frogs 

 and snakes; and ('12, p. 204) he mentions the presence of a Fish Hawk about the 

 bass ponds at the Oneida Hatchery at Constantia. Pearse ('21a. p. 44) notes 

 Yellow Perch eating Small-mouth Black Bass. 



Economic Importance and Culture. The Small-mouthed Black Bass is even 

 more of a favorite with the discriminating angler who fishes primarily for sport 

 than is the Large-mouthed Bass, but very commonly little thought is given as to 

 which one of these two desirable species is present. The ordinary bass fisherman 

 is satisfied with either. The Small-mouth is commonly of smaller size and is more 

 apt to be found in streams, and in clearer, weed-free water of lakes, where fishing 

 is more of a pleasure than where vegetation is abundant. There is a common 

 impression that the Small-mouth is gamier than the Large-mouth, but Henshall 

 ('03, p. 34) says, after his experience of nearly forty years, covering all sections 

 of the country, that "where the two species coexist there is no difference in their 

 game qualities," and that the one is equal to the other in gaminess when exposed to 

 the same conditions. The flesh of the Small-mouthed Bass is generally considered 

 superior for the table. The habitat dififerences undoubtedly account for the usual 

 absence of the "weedy" taste so often present in the flesh of the Large-mouth 

 Black Bass. Henshall ('03, p. 15) considers the flesh of but one fresh water fish 

 to be better, and that is the Whitefish of the Great Lakes. He describes the flesh 

 of bass as "white, firm, and flaky, with a fine savor, and a juicy, succulent quality 

 that is lacking with most other fresh water fi.shes." 



This bass is readily established in new waters, and with tlie other species it 

 has been introduced into Germany, France, and the Netherlands. In Germany it has 

 become permanently established (Henshall, '03, p. 7). Belding ('26, p. 79) states 

 that this species was introduced into Mas.sachusetts in 1850, where it is now present 

 in 269 lakes. Both species have been introduced into many waters of the Pacific 

 Coast region and other waters of the West ( Smith, '96, p. 442). In many waters of 

 New York State this bass has i)een established where it was formerly absent or 

 very scarce (Bean, '03, p. 488), for example at the south end of Cayuga Lake 

 (Reed and Wright, '09, p. 400). In stocking waters with this bass, the forms 

 already present should be given careful attention. Where crawfish are numerous 

 the other fishes of a body of water are not likely to be seriously disturbed, for 

 the bass prefers these crustaceans to fish as food (Henshall, '03, p. 6). Crawfish 

 can therefore be planted in some cases to increase the number of bass and divert 

 them from destroying other fishes (Cheney, '97. P- i/S). 



