1912 AND FISHERIES COMMISSION. Ill 



usually caught by trolling with live bait, or with some form of spoon or 

 imitation minnow. 



The flesh of the pike in the spring and summer is as a rule not much 

 esteemed, being soft and weedy in flavour, but in the autumn, when the 

 fish has become muscular, the flesih is flrm and pleasant to the tas-te. 

 It is to be noted also that the Indians are at all times particularly par- 

 tial to this fish and would, in many localities, eat it in preference to 

 other, more generally deemed finer, classes of fis!h. In the greater fish 

 markets there is a steady demand for pike and the fish, in consequence, 

 is dealt with in large quantities commercially, but so prolific is it and 

 so general its distribution that, even though it is capable of and does 

 afford amusement and sport to thousands every year, there would 

 appear to be no necessity for its protection excepting in the vicinity of 

 cities and towns, and in those other localities, perhaps, where no other 

 good angling is to be secured. 



The White Bass. 



The white bass should, perhaps, together with the pike, be accorded 

 a place amongst the recognized sporting fishes. It occurs in all the 

 great lakes, rarely, however, ascending the streams, although at times 

 it is abundant in the mouths of the larger rivers. It rarely attains a 

 weight in excess of ly^ lbs., and is a gregarious fish, usually swimming 

 in shoals in considerable numbers. Its spawning season occurs in May 

 or June. It will take the minnow bait readily and in addition in the 

 summer months rises well to the fly, while its fighting powers are by na 

 means to be despised. The flesh is most excellent when freshly caught. 



The Speckled Bass. 



The speckled bass is to be found in most of the Provincial waters 

 from Quebec to Lake Huron, its most general habitat being ponds, 

 lagoons, and sluggish streams where there is an abundance of aquatic 

 vegetation, under which it will lie in wait for the insects, crustaceans 

 and small fish which constitute the bulk of its food'. It spawns in the 

 early summer and is said to scoop out a nest in the sand much after the 

 fashion of the black bass. The weight whicli it attains is not frequently 

 much in excess of 1 lb. The fighting powers of the speckled bass, when 

 hooked with light tackle, are by no means inconsiderable, and even 

 though its efforts may not be very persistent, the fact that it is gregari- 

 ous and that, in consequence, considerable numbers are often to be 

 caught when a favotirite haunt is discovered, renders it attractive to 

 many anglers. As a table fish it is excellent when taken from clean 

 waters. 



The Rock Bass. 



From east to west the rock bass occurs generally throughouit the 

 waters of the Province, although its northern range has not as yet been 



