380 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 



they all came from the ponds along the lower Illinois River it is 

 likely many of them were crappies. 



In habits the Crappie does not differ greatly from the calico 

 bass. It is more southei'n in its distribution, a fact doubtless de- 

 termined largely by its ability to thrive in warmer water than the 

 other species ; and intimately associated with this is its apparent 

 preference for shallow water and mud bottom, conditions nearly 

 everywhere found in the overflow ponds, lagoons, lakes and bayous 

 of the lower Mississippi Valley. Among the small lakes of north- 

 ern Indiana, the Crappie is more numerous in the shallow, warmer 

 ones (such as Bruce, Fletcher, Bass and Eagle) than in those of 

 greater depth and colder water. 



Very little seems to be known regarding the game or food 

 qualities of this species as distinguished from those of the calico 

 bass. Its habits being essentially the same, it probably does not 

 differ greatly in other respects. Owing to the warmer water in 

 which it is usually found it is apt to be somewhat less gamy and 

 may not be as delicately flavored. 



In different parts of its habitat it bears different vernacular 

 names. In the Ohio Valley it is called Bachelor; in Illinois, Indi- 

 ana, West Virginia and Kentucky it is the Newlight, Campbellite or 

 Lamplighter, — names given to it by the irreverent during the great 

 Campbellite movement in the Ohio Valley in the early part of the 

 Nineteenth Century ; in the Southern States it is called Sac - a' - 

 lait and Chinquapin Perch. Other local names are Tin-mouth, 

 Paper-mouth, Bridge Perch, Goggle-eye, Speckled Perch, Shad, and 

 John Demon. Most of these names are also applied to the calico 

 bass. The only place where we have heard the name ''John 

 Demon" was at a small lake in northeastern Indiana, and the 

 species meant was more likely the calico bass than the Crappie. 



Among the Louisiana anglers, especially about Lake Pont- 

 chartrain, the Crappie is a prime favorite, for it will take a min- 

 now bait as promptly as a black bass. It is not very pugnacious, 

 however, and will not fight as long as the bass, and it is more 

 easily frightened, requiring greater caution on the part of the 

 angler. 



A correspondent of the American Angler- describes the fishing 

 in Cedar Lake, Indiana. Angling is carried on from little flat- 

 bottomed skiffs and from sail-boats, with bait minnows, worms 

 or pieces of fish. In 5 hours 2 men caught 57 bass and 82 crap- 

 pies. Trolling is a favorite mode of fishing among the people who 

 live near the lake, who, using 2 lines with spoon bait or ''whirl", 



- American Angler, II, 87. 



