436 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 



waters, and therefore a finer, firmer, more deeply colored 

 and more vigorous fish, is the Calico Bass. 



The range of this species extends from South Carolina 

 north-westward to Kentucky, Vermont, Iowa and the Great 

 Lakes, being almost identical with that of the Rock Bass. 

 Many fishermen fail to distinguish this from the Crappie, and 

 Dr. Henshall has proposed to spread the same name over 

 both, calling this the Northern Crappie. It has, however, 

 good names of its own, and the observant angler will notice 

 that while the true Crappie has but six spines in its dorsal 

 fin, the Calico Bass has seven, and its anal fin is mottled 

 and spotted like the dorsal, while in the Crappie this fin is 

 almost plain. In Lake Michigan, where this fish is abundant 

 and the Crappie is not found at all, the name of Bar-fish is 

 in common use. In Ohio and Illinois, besides the appropri- 

 ate name of Calico Bass, there are others of less pertinence. 

 Strawberry Bass, Grass Bass, Bitter Head and Big Fin Bass 

 are among the best of them, but it will be best to let them 

 all die away through disuse. 



The Calico Bass is an excellent game fish, rather superior 

 to the Rock Bass, inasmuch as it is handsomer and usually 

 grows larger, and shows a good deal of eagerness and spirit. 



Of all our American Bass-like fishes, this will probably 

 prove to be the one best adapted for artificial ponds, espe- 

 cially those with weedy or mucky bottom and clear water. 



The case for the Calico Bass is thus strongly put by Dr. 

 Jared P. Kirtland, as quoted by Dr. Goode: 



"The Grass Bass has not hitherto been deemed worthy of 

 consideration by fish culturists; yet from a long and intimate 

 acquaintance with its merits, I hesitate not to pronounce it 

 the fish for the million. It is a native of our western rivers 

 and lakes, where it usually resorts to deep and sluggish 

 waters; yet in several instances, where it has found its way 

 into cold and rapid streams, and even small-sized brooks, by 

 means of the constructing of canals or by the hand of man, 



