THE BASSES: FRES H w ATER AND MARINE 



form of black bass, weighing from three to five 

 pounds each, and failed to recognize any breaking- 

 up of this distinct but irregular and ugly blotchy 

 coloration along the median line. There is, how- 

 ever, hardly a limit to be placed upon the different 

 colorations, even of the same species, and some- 

 times even of those inhabiting the same waters. 

 The factors producing these variations of color 

 are the nature of the bottoms, light or dark, weedy 

 or rocky; the character of the stream, shaded or 

 otherwise; and the food most abundant. If the 

 latter consists chiefly of crustaceans, the color of 

 the black bass will, as in the case of the trout, 

 become richer and darker. Changes of color in 

 the black bass, as also in the trout, have been seen 

 to occur when the fish moves from one part of 

 the stream to another and remains there a short 

 time under new physical conditions. 



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