CHAPTER V. 

 GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. 



IN this brief paper,* the writer intends merely to give 

 the facts, as they exist, relative to the distribution of the 

 Black Bass species, without attempting to draw any con- 

 clusions therefrom, or from the laws which govern the geo- 

 graphical distribution of fresh-water fishes, or to offer any 

 theory concerning the .same. A study of the habitat of 

 the Black Bass, however, will, no doubt, aid the biologist 

 very materially in solving the problem of the distribution 

 of animals. 



The geographical distribution of the Black Bass is re- 

 markable for its extent ; the original habitat of one or other 

 of the two species ranging from Virginia to Florida, and 

 from Canada and the Red river of the North to Louisiana 

 and East Mexico. In other words, it might be stated that 

 the original geographical range of this representative Amer- 

 ican fish embraced the whole of North America, south of 

 the British possessions and east of the Rocky Mountains, 

 except the waters flowing into the Atlantic in New Eng- 

 land and the Middle States, thus far excelling any other 

 fish of America in its distribution. Of the two species, 

 the large-mouthed Bass had the widest distribution, occur- 

 ring all through the vast scope of territory mentioned 



* On the Distribution of the Black Bass. By Dr. James A. Hen- 

 shall. <Proceedings American Fishcultural Association, 1883. 



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