82 CHECK LIST OF THE 



next ; profile more or less S shaped ; head depressed, snout projecting ; 

 upper jaw nearly one half the length of head, the maxilla reaching slightly 

 beyond the middle of the eye. 



D. VI., 16; A. VI., 17. Scales, 7-45-13. 



Colour, clear silvery olive, the sides mottled with dark greenish 

 blotches ; on the upper part of. the body are traces of narrow vertical bars. 

 The dorsal and caudal fins are mottled, but the anal is usually plain. 

 Attains a length of about twelve inches and a weight of one pound. 



This species ranges from the Great Lakes southward. It occurs rarely 

 in Lake Erie and possibly also in Lake Ontario. In appearance the 

 Crappie and the Speckled Bass are very much alike, the best distinguish- 

 ing marks between them being the more elongated form of the Crappie, 

 the possession of only six spines in the dorsal, and the nearly uniform 

 plain whitish colour of the anal. 



In its habits it closely resembles the next and more familiar species. 



(86) Speckled Bass. Calico Bass. 



(Pomoxis sparoides.) 



Body oblong, compressed, its depth about one-half the length with- 

 out the tail ; head about one-third length. Mouth very oblique and smaller 

 than in the Crappie ; the profile comparatively even ; fins very high. 



D. VII., 15; A. VI., 17 to 18. Scales on lateral line, 41 to 42. 



Colour, silvery olive mottled with clear olive green, the dark mark- 

 ings gathered in small irregular bunches and covering the whole body ; 

 vertical fins with dark olive reticulations, surrounding pale spots ; anal 

 marked like the dorsal ; a dusky opercular spot. Under favourable cir- 

 cumstances it attains a length of ten or twelve inches and a weight of one 

 pound or rather more. 



The Speckled Bass is found in the waters of this Province from Que- 

 bec to Lake Huron. It frequents ponds, lagoons, and sluggish streams, 

 where there is an abundance of aquatic vegetation, under which it lies in 

 wait for the insects, crustaceans and small fish upon which it feeds. It 

 spawns in the early summer and is said to scoop out a nesting place in 

 the sand in the same manner as the Sunfishes and Black Bass. This I 

 have never seen, though I have been very familiar with the species for 

 nearly forty years. 



As a food and game fish it stands high in the estimation of anglers, 

 though it is not a very persistent fighter. Being gregarious and congre- 

 gating in schools, under overhanging weeds and such like places, it may 

 be captured in great numbers when a favorite haunt is discovered. 



This species readily adapts itself to life in artificial ponds and is 

 worthy of much more attention from fish culturists than it has heretofore 

 received, for when taken from clear water it is one of the best table fish 

 we have. 



