1912 AND FISHERIES C0:MMISSI0N. 99 



localities than in others. It can also be captured still fishing or trolling 

 >yitli a variety of baits, such as the angle- worm, trolling spoon, frog and 

 natural or artificial minnow. It is, however, not always an easy matter 

 to induce it to bite, especially so where food is plentiful. Frequently it 

 will approach the bait, sometimes taking it into its mouth and playing 

 with, without swallowing, it. On the other hand, there are times when 

 the fish bite greedily and without hesitation at almost any bait that may 

 be offered, and on such occasions it is pos'sible on good bass grounds to 

 land considerable numbers of the fish. In any case, once the bass is 

 hooked, it rushes away at great speed and commences to fight most 

 vigorously. In the course of the struggle it will, as a rule, break water 

 two or three times, and the battle can never be considered as won until 

 the fish has actually been landed, for up to the very last moment it will 

 resist capture with all the strength and energy it possesses. In fact it 

 is not too much to claim for the small-mouthed black bass that there is 

 no fish in the world which weight for weight will fight with more per- 

 sistent determination, and it is incontestable that it must be accorded 

 premier rank among the game fishes of the Province, alike for the sport 

 which it provides throughout the wide area of its distribution to the 

 citizens, and for the attractive power w^hich it possesses, to draw enthusi- 

 astic anglers to Ontario from all parts. In weight the small-mouthed 

 black bass ranges up to Qy^ to 7 lbs., though fish of this size are but in- 

 frequently caught. A 2 to 4-lb. specimen, however, can be counted on to 

 give the angler all that he requires in the way of magnificent sport. 



The Large-Mouthed Black Bass. 



The large-mouthed black bass, sometimes known as the yellow or 

 green bass, is not infrequently^ confounded with the snmll-mouthed 

 variety. Its distribution is almost coincident with that of the latter, 

 namely, the eastern, southern and central waters of the Province, but it 

 does not range quite so far to the north. As a rule this fish prefers those 

 waters which have a mud bottom and in which, consequently, there is 

 an abundance of aquatic vegetation, so that it occurs in greatest abun- 

 dance in quiet lakes and bays, but it appears to be capable also of adapt- 

 ing itself to running waters and even to thrive therein. As in the case 

 of its small-moil thod relative, the spawning season commences in May 

 and is completed early in July, being determined largely by the tempera- 

 ture of the water, and it also constructs a nest which it scoops out of the 

 sand or mud for the reception of the eggs. Incubation lasts from one to 

 two weeks, varying with the temperature of the water, the young bass 

 remaining in the nest for about a week after emerging from the eggs, and 

 until th(^se latter are ready to move away the parent fish remains on 

 guard. The principal foods are fish, frogs and crustaceans, and in the 

 summer months it is most usually to be found under overhanging banks, 

 in the shelter of sunken stumps or logs, or in holes among the weeds. As 



