502 Roosevelt Wild Life .liaials 



atnbloplitis Kellicott, which is common on the gill arches of this species ; and 

 ('iia, p. 269) in writing of the copepods of the family Ergasilidae, he says that 

 nearly every specimen of Rock Bass is sure to yield such parasites, the number 

 from a single fish often reaching hundreds. Ergasilns centrarchidaruui Wright 

 also infests this fish, which, according to Wilson (I.e., p. 333), is the most cummcjn 

 host of this parasite. Nearly every specimen of this bass examined by him had been 

 found infested to some extent. Both Wilson ('16, pp. 338; '19, p. 231) and 

 Surber ("13. p. 105) note a mussel parasite, Arcidens confragosus Simpson, on 

 the species. Lefevre and Curtis ('12, p. 167) found that when Rock Bass was 

 exposed for thirty to forty minutes to glochidia of the mussel LampsUis, it would 

 have from two thousand to twenty-five hundred of these larvae attached to its gills. 



Evermann and Clark ('20, Vol. i, p. 297) found leeches in the mouth and on 

 the fins of Rock Bass, and coj^epods on the gills, and cestodes and trematodes 

 nearly always present in the stomach and the intestine. They found (p. 389) 

 that the Rock Bass is afflicted with parasites perhaps to a greater extent than is 

 an\' other species of fish in Lake Maxinkuckee. Infesting this liass here were 

 (I.e., \'o\. 2, pp. 79-80) Arguliis iiuinilosiis Wilson, lirfiasilii.'; eeiitnireliidaniiu 

 \\ right and Aclithcrcs ambloplitis Kellicott. Hankinson found considerable preju- 

 dice among anglers in the small Michigan lakes against this Rock Bass, or "Wall- 

 eyed Bass" as it was called, for it was said to be "wormy." Pratt ('2^. p. 62) 

 found a single trematode, Crepidostomnm cornutum (Osborn), in the stomach in 

 one of four examples of the species from Oneida Lake. Faust ('18, p. 189) found 

 the same parasite in Rock Bass from Chautauqua Lake, N. Y. 



Economic Relations. Rock Bass are good food fish, more popular in some 

 localities than in others. Jordan and Evermann ('03, p. 340) find that "Its flesh 

 is soft and flaky, and is apt to have a muddy taste unless the fish comes from rather 

 cool, clear water. We are inclined to think that those from streams are of better 

 flavor than the ones taken from lakes." Hankinson found it to be inferior to 

 other centrarchids from small lakes in Southern Michigan. Forbes and Richard- 

 son ('09, p. 244) consider it alxive the average as a pan fish but not among the best. 



'i"he species is well adapted for pond culture. Johnson and Stapleton ("15, 

 p. iSi consider it well suited Idr sjiring fed ponds, together with the Small-mouth 

 Black Piass. Smith ('07, \t. 234) finds it is a desirable fish for ponds and one 

 that has lieen successfully planted in all parts of the country. Bensley ('15, p. 40) 

 considers the s]K'cies a pest to fishermen in search of Small-mouth Black Bass : 

 "It inhabits the same situations, is of insignificant size and of no fighting qualities: 

 with a prnpcnsity for biting on all occasions." 



This lisii is one that needs s])ecial study in Oneida Lake with a view to finding 

 out if its numbers there should be increased — which ajiparently could easily be 

 brought about. The attitude of anglers toward the species might be ascertained as 

 well as it^ i-iini|>rirative fcidd value and the extent tn which it preys uimn nr ccmi- 

 petes with nllicr siuries of lisb in the lake. 



Angling Notes. Some s])ort attends the catching of Rock Bass in waters 

 where there are few better fish ; but where black bass, pickerel or other good game 

 fishes are plentiful, the occasional hooking of a Rock Bass is rather a matter of 

 disap]i(iiiitnient. fnr it is tnci sniiill to be a ])ri/e for the table, and lacks gameness. 



