THE MOTHERLY CARE OF SOME FISHES. 21 



seven days, varying according to the temperature of 

 the water. After they are hatched, the young fry 

 are about as helpless as young robins ; hence the 

 mother stays with them until they have learned to 

 feed, and then the brood scatter, and the family ties 

 are severed forever. The black bass is a very plucky 

 and game fish, and when in charge of the little ones 

 is very ferocious, and will dart at all intruders who 

 venture near, and unless they make haste to get out 

 of the way, some one is very liable to get hurt. 



The brook trout is considered a much more gentle 

 fish, lives in beautiful little streams, and is much 

 more handsome to look upon, but for all that, these 

 fish are cannibals in their nature, and would not 

 hesitate to devour their own spawn or young fry, if 

 they felt the need of them. 



In all waters suitable for them, the black bass 

 increase very rapidly, forty or fifty mature fishes be- 

 ing sufficient to stock any waters in the course of a 

 few years. The reason of this is because of the pro- 

 tection given their young, as explained above. 



The bull-head is a fish not to be despised. It is a 

 native of many of our rivers, lakes and ponds, and is 

 very prolific, one pair breeding about one thousand 

 fry. It is an excellent fish for the people, for the 

 reason that it is very plenty, and easy to catch. 

 They are caught principally in roily or muddy water, 

 for the reason that they depend upon their nose 

 to discover their food ; they follow the scent, the 

 same as a dog. Their method of breeding is as fol- 

 lows : after they mate, they dig a hole in the side 

 of a bank, and sometimes on the bottom, and then 

 excavate a sort of cave, about two feet across, and 



