CHAPTER VI. 

 HABITS OF THE BLACK BASS. 



SPAWNING AND HATCHING. 



THE female Black Bass yields from five thousand to 

 twenty thousand eggs, according to age and weight. The 

 eggs are of the adhesive or glutinous class, and can not be 

 manipulated in the same way as those of the salmon, trout, 

 or shad (which latter are non-adhesive or separate) by the 

 pisciculturist. The eggs are inclosed or enveloped in glu- 

 tinous bands or ribbons of an adhesive character, which 

 sink at once to the bottom of the nest and become glued 

 to the pebbles, rocks, sticks, etc. 



Major Isaac Arnold, Jr., while in command of the 

 Arsenal, at Indianapolis, Indiana, prepared a small pond in 

 the grounds and stocked it with small-mouthed Bass from 

 White river and Fall creek. For several years he had the 

 opportunity of closely observing the fish during the breed- 

 ing season, and records the following interesting data : * 



" I placed the Bass in the pond for the sole purpose of noticing 

 them during the breeding season, but the water in the pond was 

 so crowded with a growth of algae that my observations have not 

 been satisfactory. I think the female prepares the spawning 

 ground or bed, after which the male joins her. Whilst the fe- 

 male is preparing the bed the males fight with each other for 



* Successful Propagation of Black Bass. By Major Isaac Arnold, 

 Jr., U. S. A. <Bulletiri TL S. Fish Commission, li, 1882. 

 (48) 



