484 Roosevelt IJ'ild Life Annals 



have reported finding fifteen specimens of this bass parasitized with Acanthoce- 

 phala in great numbers, and also with cestodes, nematodes and trematodes (pp. 

 163, 179). Ward and Whipple ('18, p. 436) record Proteocephalus ambloplitis 

 (Leidy) and (p. 546) Neoechinorhynchus cylindratiis (\'an Cleave) from the 

 Large-mouth Black Bass (see also LaRue, '14, p. 285). DeRyke ('22, p. 38) 

 found 32 of 133 specimens of this bass collected in Winona Lake, Indiana, infested 

 with the trematode Leuceriithrns microptcri (Marshall and Gilbert.) Some para- 

 sitic worms which we found in Oneida Lake specimens of this bass (No. 314) 

 have not yet been identified. Evermann and Clark ('20, p. 299) record Achtheres 

 ambloplitis Kellicott and Ergasilus ccntrarchidantm about the gills of this species 

 from Lake Maxinkuckee, Indiana. \\'ilson ('19, p. 231) records .-/. ambloplitis 

 Kellicott as found on the gill arches. Riley ("15, p. 3) mentions Clinostoinmii 

 marginatum as a parasite of the species. 



Economic Relations. The Large-mouth Black Bass together with the Small- 

 mouth are among the most important of our fresh-water fishes from a recreational 

 viewpoint. They are probably the species most eagerly sought by the anglers who 

 fish our inland lakes. The sport of catching them is followed by the pleasures attend- 

 ing the eating of a meaty and delicious table fish. Black Bass sometimes have a 

 weedy flavor in summer; and when taken from shallow weedy lakes or ponds. 

 Skinning the fish will improve the palatability of the flesh (Henshall. '03, p. 15). 



Though fewer are now caught than formerly in lake waters near growing 

 centers of population, these fish are holding their own fairly well ; and in our 

 more northern waters, where fishing is not so intensive or where their habitats are 

 extensive, as in portions of the Great Lakes, black bass are abundant and are 

 caught in numbers by tourists. In many places they form an important asset 

 to local residents in the attraction they offer to tourists. Where bass fishing is 

 good, the tourists commonly pay well for the opportunity to indulge in the sport, 

 just as they do in regions with good waters for trout or other game fish. As a table 

 fish the black basses are valuable ; but they are not legally marketable in New York 

 and other northern states and therefore are not commercial fish. Catches made 

 by anglers, however, even when excessive, are rarely wasted. 



Since black bass are no longer commercial fish, at least in New York State, 

 we have no figures to show the cash value in recent years ; but it must be very 

 large, especially to railroad, automobile and gasoline interests, and to guides and 

 other persons dependent upon tourist trade. In some parts of the country in 

 former years there were black bass fisheries. Forbes and Richardson ('09, p. 269) 

 show that in 1899 the black bass fisheries in Illinois amounted to 120,000 pounds, 

 of which 102,000 pounds came from the Illinois River. 



The culture of black bass in ponds is maintained at hatchery grounds. Since 

 the fish can not be successfully stripped they are induced to nest and rear their 

 young in artificial ponds. According to the last report of the Division of Fish 

 and Game of the New York State Conservation Department (Macdonald, '2^, 

 p. 108), no young of the Large-mouth Black Bass have been distributed bv the 

 State since 1922. 



The T,argc-moutli Black Bass is ri favorable species for pond culture. It grows 

 rapidiv and is prolific: and the adults iiroteet their young against many of the 



