FISH ACCLIMATISATION. 401 



attain to the weight of ten pounds and over but I have nevei 

 seen any larger than four or five pounds, and these were stuffed 

 specimens from Canada. In my own water near Burghley, I 

 do not think that I have any larger than 2\ Ibs. in weight, but the 

 Black Bass have only been introduced into the lake some three 

 years ago, though they are thriving well and have multiplied 

 exceedingly. 



The Black Bass spawns towards the end of May and during 

 June as a rule, but I believe that this greatly depends upon the 

 climate and the temperature of the water. The female deposits 

 the ova at the bottom of the nest, which she has prepared by 

 scooping out a hole in the gravel or mud in the bed of the lake, 

 pond, or river. These nests are nearly circular in form, varying, 

 according to the size of the fish, from one to two or three feet 

 in diameter. 'The female lies on her side, and the male fish 

 with his mouth presses out the ova by a series of what looks 

 like " bites " along her belly. The male then ejects the milt over 

 the ova from time to time, and the spawning process lasts for 

 two or three days.' l The parent fish take the greatest care 

 of the ova, and of their young when hatched, by swimming 

 round the nests and keeping off all intruders, or anything 

 which is likely to injure the young brood. When the young 

 Black Bass are able to swim, one of the parent fish accom- 

 panies them. I have seen on a hot still day at Whitewater 

 the old bass swimming leisurely about near the surface 

 of the water, surrounded by her family of young bass, lead- 

 ing them in the same way that an old hen on land goes 

 about with her chickens. The Bass in the winter-time appear 

 to like lying at the bottom of the deepest parts of a pond or 

 stream, and are therefore at that time of year very difficult to 

 see, but as the warm weather comes on they begin to move 

 about (mostly in shoals), when they will rise to a fly, or take a 

 worm, minnow, or artificial bait freely. I think that the Black 



1 This I have taken from Major Arnold's Report, September 21, iSSi, 

 United States Fish Commission, as I have never seen the spawning process 

 myself. 



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