8 Bass, Pike, and Perch 



or having cold bottom springs. In lakes of the 

 latter character, in northern sections, it coexists 

 with large-mouth bass in many instances. In 

 such cases, however, the small-mouth will be 

 found usually at the inlet, or about the springs, 

 and the large-mouth at the outlet or in sheltered, 

 grassy situations. In winter it undergoes a state 

 of partial or complete torpidity. In ponds that 

 have been drained in the winter season it has 

 been found snugly ensconced in the crevices of 

 rocks, beneath shelving banks, logs, roots, or 

 among masses of vegetation, undergoing its 

 winter sleep. In the spring, when the tempera- 

 ture of the water rises above fifty degrees, the 

 small-mouth bass emerges from its winter quar- 

 ters, about which it lingers until the water be- 

 comes still warmer, when it departs in search of 

 suitable locations for spawning. At this time, 

 owing to a semi-migratory instinct, it ascends 

 streams, and roams about in lakes or ponds, often 

 ascending inlet streams, or in some instances 

 descending outlet streams. 



When favorable situations are found, the male 

 and female pair off and proceed to fulfil the 

 reproductive instinct. The spawning period 

 extends from May to July, according to the 



