THE CASTER'S QUARRY 127 



sticks, while the small mouth scoops out a nest in 

 the gravel or sand. 



The courtship of the black bass is very interesting. 

 The nest is always made by the male fish a week or 

 so before he sallies forth to court "ye ladie faire." 

 After the nest is finished, he approaches the female 

 and "shows off," cutting capers the same way that a 

 cock bird does in courting a hen. Meanwhile, he is 

 coaxing or driving the female toward his nest. Na- 

 turally, she appears shy and reluctant. When he gets 

 her to the nest he immediately ascertains whether or 

 not she is "ripe." If not, he immediately drives her 

 away and seeks another mate. If ripe, the more 

 serious business of egg-laying takes place. Each fish 

 swims in opposite directions, rubbing bellies as they 

 pass, and as the female ejects the eggs the male fertil- 

 izes them. 



Sometimes it is difficult to get the eggs started and 

 we have often observed the male fish nipping the belly 

 of the female while the latter trembles and twists its 

 body about as though to loosen the tissues. The eggs 

 are not all laid at the same time, it usually taking about 

 two days to complete the function. 



After the eggs are laid the female leaves the nest 

 and the male lies over them to drive off marauders, 

 and fans continually with fins and tail to prevent 

 sediment or dirt settling in the nest which interferes 

 with the hatch. Incidentally, motor boats should not 

 be run near the spawning beds during the hatching 

 season on account of the dirt they stir up. 



