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PRAIRIE AND FOREST. 



myself, for fish of such a size were far from common. The 

 color, as in all varieties of fish, varies much. In clear, run- 

 ning water they are generally a very dark green upon the 

 back (much such a shade as the darker hues in mackerel), 

 gradually getting lighter, almost to white, as you approach 

 the abdomen; but in those Southern waters, which are 

 strongly impregnated with alluvial deposit, and consequent- 

 ly turbid, the back of these bass are less brilliant in shade, 

 while the stomach is not so clear a white. An advantage 

 that recommends them is, that they are in season when 

 trout should not be killed. In spring they spawn, the ex- 

 act time varying in different waters On account of season 

 and position as to latitude. 



If I may judge from the quantity of spawn the female 

 contains, they must be immensely prolific ; for although the 

 individual ovum is small, the roe is very large in proportion 

 to the bulk of the fish. From my own observation and in- 

 quiries, I believe that the spawn is from sixteen to twenty 

 days in maturing, after being deposited, which would give 

 ample time for its transportation across the Atlantic. I am 

 further of opinion that, indiscriminately, gravel or soil bot- 

 tom is selected on which to deposit the eggs ; for many of 

 the rivers and ponds in which I have captured this bass 

 flowed through, or were situated in deep bottom - lands, 

 where a stone, even as large as a pebble, would be difficult 

 to find. One pond in Southern Illinois I particularly re- 

 member ; it covered a space of about thirty acres, with an 

 average depth of about three feet, except in the southern 

 extremity, where about eight feet of water could be found. 

 The bottom was entirely composed of mud ; yet this pond 

 swarmed with black bass. Lake Champlain, the St. Law- 

 rence, and Lake Ontario (all who have visited these regions 

 will remember) are remarkably clear, with gravelly or rocky 

 bottoms, and each is a favorite haunt of this fish. 



