4^ THE BRITISH ANGLER'S LEXICON. 



selves under aquatic plants, where they feed on the small 

 fry that these give shelter to. The spawning season of both 

 varieties is about the same May till end of July. The eggs 

 are adhesive, attach themselves to stones until hatched, and 

 are deposited in shallow water on a gravelly bottom in flat- 

 shaped nests, which are formed by the female fish, at least 

 it is assumed to be so. The males fight for the possession 

 of the female, and the successful suitor helps her to eject 

 the eggs by biting or pressing her abdomen. The male 

 then deposits the milt and departs, leaving the female to 

 guard the eggs from numerous enemies frogs, birds, and 

 fishes. The period of incubation lasts from seven to 

 fourteen days, and the young bass remain in the nest for 

 about a week. The male returns and assists the female to 

 defend the young fry until they are able to fight for them- 

 selves. At the age of ten weeks the young bass measure 

 three-quarters of an inch in length, and at three years of 

 age, in suitable waters, the average weight will be three 

 pounds. The flesh is white, firm, and well flavoured, ranking 

 as one of the best of the fresh water species resembling in 

 taste that of the whiting. It is asserted that the game habits 

 of this fish are superior to the small-mouthed variety; but this 

 is a vexed question, both being possessed of high sporting 

 qualities. The small-mouthed black bass (rnic ropterus dolo- 

 mieu), called yellow bass, gold bass, brown bass, dark bass, 

 minny bass, little bass, and hog bass, is pretty widely dis- 

 tributed in that portion of America north of the Mississippi, 

 extending into Canada ; but it has been introduced lately, and 

 with success, into various sections of the vast continent of the 

 United States. It seldom exceeds the weight of eight pounds, 

 and usually averages two and a half pounds ; a fish of this 

 latter weight will measure fifteen inches. The small-mouthed 



